Saturday | Jun 28 2025 | 02:43:15 AM
New Delhi, December 3
The Maharashtra Government suspended former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh citing a series of extortion and corruption cases lodged against him as well as his unauthorized absence from duty for a long period.
According to the three-page order signed by joint secretary Venkatesh Bhat, Singh has been suspended with immediate effect in view of cases of extortion and corruption. The order cites four criminal cases against Singh on charges of corruption, extortion, violation of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at police stations in Marine Lines, Kalyan and Thane.
During the period of suspension, Singh shall be paid a subsistence allowance, dearness allowance and other allowances. He shall not leave the HQ without the DGP’s permission, the rules state. Any breach of conditions will be liable for disciplinary action, the order read.
Singh was appointed as DG home Guards on March 18 after his removal as Mumbai Police commissioner on March 17 in the aftermath of explosives being found outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence, Antilia.
The Maharashtra Government also suspended former Thane deputy commissioner of police Parag Shyam Manere for similar offences. Manere, currently posted as additional superintendent (excise) at Nagpur, was Singh’s trusted aide when the latter was Thane police chief.
After a prolonged absence from work and following then lookout notices against Singh, Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Pandey had sent letters to the Maharashtra Government for his suspension.
The state home minister Dilip Walse Patil accepted the proposals and submitted for the CM’s approval on CM Uddhav Thackeray signed the orders on December 2 following which the government issued the suspension order to Singh.
The state home department will now send a detailed report to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) requesting his dismissal from services.
Singh got into crossfire with the government as days after his removal from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner, he had written letter to CM Thackeray alleging that then home minister Anil Deshmukh had directed crime branch officials to collect ₹100 crore every month from businessmen in Mumbai.
The inquiry commission looking into these allegations directed Singh to record his statement, but the IPS officer, who was virtually incommunicado since May, turned up only last week after the Supreme Court granted him relief from arrest.
Singh was found guilty in a departmental inquiry by additional chief secretary Debashish Chakrabarty for dereliction of duty.
Meanwhile, the city’s Esplanade Court cancelled its proclamation offender order against Singh in an extortion case registered against him in suburban Goregaon.Additional chief metropolitan magistrate S B Bhajipale had on November 17 issued the proclamation order declaring former Singh as an absconder.
However, after Singh appeared before the court last week, his lawyer moved an application seeking cancellation of the proclamation order. Days before his suspension Singh had also appeared before the CID twice to record his statements in the extortion cases filed against.
