Not satisfied with Param Bir Singh's statement on first day of interrogation: Mumbai Crime Branch

The absconding Director General of Maharashtra Police, Home Guard and former Commissioner of the city police, Param Bir Singh, surfaced on Thursday after months, and appeared before the unit 11 of the Mumbai Crime Branch. He was grilled by Mumbai Crime Branch for more than six hours and denied all the allegations that dismissed police officer Sachin Waze was extorting money on his behalf.

Singh also said in his statement that he doesn't know who calls him what when he was asked about the allegations that Waze referred to him as Number 1. Waze, in his statement to the Mumbai Crime Branch and Enforcement Directorate (ED), has said that former home minister Anil Deshmukh was his Number 1. However, the Crime Branch, in its probe has found that it was Singh, as generally the CP is referred as Number 1 and the hoteliers also said the same in their statement.

Media persons gathered outside the Kandivli police station where Param Bir Singh was grilled by the Crime Branch. Pic/Satej Shinde

According to sources, while recording his statement, Singh didn't give satisfactory answers. "He kept giving his versions and we asked him whatever we wanted to ask based on certain evidence and audio recordings submitted by the complainant in the case. His detailed statement was recorded and he has been asked to appear whenever investigation demands," said a senior officer of the Mumbai Crime Branch.

"We have cooperated in the investigation as per directions from the Supreme Court and will cooperate further in all other cases registered in Maharashtra," said advocate Rajendra Mokashi, Singh's counsel. After recording his statement, Singh went to his official residence at Neelima near Malabar Hill police station. Outside his residence he spoke to the press and said, "I have full faith in the judiciary and I am cooperating in the investigation as per the directions given by the court. I have nothing much to say apart from this."

The complainant, Bimal Agarwal, a hotelier, recorded WhatsApp calls of Waze wherein he is allegedly heard asking for protection money and said the money will go to the Number 1. Singh was untraceable since August and went on medical leave from May this year after he was transferred to DG home Guard from the Mumbai police commissionerate after the Antilia fiasco. The state government had some inputs that he might have fled the country fearing his arrest in multiple extortion cases registered against him in Maharashtra.

Singh was declared a proclaimed offender by the magistrate court as the Mumbai Crime Branch informed it that he did not appear before it in a Goregaon extortion case and was not available at all his locations. After the court in Mumbai declared him a proclaimed offender, Singh approached the apex court for protection. The court then asked him to first reveal his location, whether he was in the country. After he revealed his location, the Supreme Court gave him protection from arrest and asked him to join the probe. On Thursday morning, Singh landed at the airport in Mumbai and went to unit 11 of the Mumbai Crime Branch which is probing the case of extortion against him and his close confidante Waze.

Other cases against Singh

There are four more cases registered against Singh, three being investigated by the state CID and one by Thane police. Singh will appear before all the officers who are investigating the cases. He also faces serious allegations of his alleged involvement in the Antilia case. The charge sheet filed by NIA recently points fingers at Singh and his possible involvement in the case but he was not made an accused by NIA. As per NIA's chargesheet, Singh allegedly paid R5 lakh to a cyber expert to modify/manipulate the secret report related to purported terror organisation Jaish-UL-Hind.

Singh is also under scanner for his meetings with ex-encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma and Waze. The confidential report from apple received by NIA also points fingers at Singh. Sources said Singh was summoned by NIA but never appeared. He did not respond to phone calls and messages regarding the NIA charge sheet.

Five
No. of cases lodged against Singh