The allegations made on the Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh by the former police chief Param Bir Singh has heated up the criticism faced by the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of Maharashtra.
The step taken by an alleged cop just to reinstate his position has become the starting point for the deterioration of a huge empire of illicit activities involving politicians as well as lawmakers.
Here is the briefing of the case:
The case started when an explosives-laden white Scorpio found abandoned on 25 February near Antilia, Industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence. The SUV also had death threats to both Mukesh Ambani and his wife Nita Ambani.
Soon after this incident the investigation into the matter was initiated which took a drastic turn on the death of the owner of the white SUV, Mansukh Hiran on March 5.
Hiran was an auto-parts dealer and was the legal owner of the SUV. After his death the whole focus point turned on Mumbai cop and ‘encounter specialist’ Sachin Waze, whom Hiran’s wife accused to be involved in her husband’s murder and she also told that Hiran had given his SUV to Waze for four months which he returned on Feb 5. Hiran had also filed a lost complain for the SUV on February 17.
Later in the investigation it was found that Sachin was really a culprit in the case and as being experienced and taking benefit of his position he destroyed all the evidence.
In the mean time, the state opposition, BJP was in no mood to give away a chance to ruling MVA. Former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a speech on explosives and alleged Shiv Sena for backing Sachin Waze. The BJP is criticizing the Shiv Sena for supporting and protecting Waze as the cop is a Shiv Sena member since 2008 but has been very inactive.
The case was initially handled by the Mumbai Police and Sachin Waze was the key official in handling of the case. But later when Waze himself was found suspected the case was then transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
After this transfer of case, the Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut criticized Centre for transferring the case to NIA by citing that it will discourage all the police cops and will lead to lack of trust in police officials. Supporting Waze Raut also said that Sachin Waze is an “honest” and “very capable” cop.
Following the investigation and revelations the Maharashtra government finally removed Waze from Crime Banch on March 10.
Apart from Mr Raut, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray also supported the Mumbai cop by saying, ‘Sachin Vaze is not Osama Bin Laden’ on which the Opposition BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis called Thackeray an “advocate of Sachin Waze”.
After 12 hours of questions the NIA finally arrested Waze on March 13 late night under the Sections 120 (B) for criminal conspiracy; 286 for negligent conduct with respect to explosive substance; 465 for forgery; 473 for making or possessing counterfeit seal and 506(2) for criminal intimidation.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which was also handling the case previously with the Mumbai Police has now revealed that Waze indeed planned Hiran’s murder with two other colleagues on March 2. The planned murder was ordered to execute by Waze but he was not present at the spot during the murder.
The NIA in its investigation so far has concluded that Waze himself drove the explosives-laden SUV and left it abandoned on near Antilia and came back in Innova car which was escorting the SUV. The agency also said that Waze solely planned the incident to get back his lost glory.
After all this the case has now totally changed its direction to Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and the 1988-batch IPS officer Param Bir Singh.
Singh who was serving as the Police Chief of Thane was replaced by Hemant Nagrale on March 18 by the state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. Singh was initially supported by the Shiv Sena as on March 19, the ruling Shiv Sena in a statement said, Singh’s transfer does not make him a criminal and also alleged a particular lobby in Delhi who was upset from the TRP scam which happened in Singh’s tenure.
The party also praised his efforts during the pandemic and also for mentally and emotionally encouraging the police force during the hard time.
But a day later the Police Chief had hit out the government by alleging the state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
In a series of allegations Singh also alleged Deshmukh of asking the arrested cop Sachin Waze for extorting money from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Not only from Waze he asked many other police officials with a set target of Rs 100 crore every month, Singh wrote in his letter.
Responding to the letter, Deshmukh said, Singh’s removal had already generated suspicions of his connection in the Ambani security case and alleged him of using the false claims against him to save himself in the Ambani security scare case and Mansukh Hiran’s death case.
Singh who is very sure of his allegations has demanded a CBI probe against Deshmukh by filing petition in SC.
Following Singh’s allegations opposition leaders like Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s Raj Thackeray and BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis are asking for Deshmukh’s resignation.
