Charges against Param Bir junked, suspension revoked

One-liner: The Maharashtra govt has dropped all charges against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh brought during a departmental enquiry, and also revoked his suspension order issued in Dec 2021, an official has said.

CBI to continue probe: However, the CBI will continue to investigate five cases filed by it against Singh, he said. The retired IPS officer is facing multiple cases of extortion, corruption and misconduct.

Departmental enquiry: The order revoking the suspension of Singh and withdrawing all charges against him related to the departmental enquiry initiated in 2021 was issued by the state home dept on Wednesday, he said.

• According to the order, the period of the former IPS officer's suspension should be treated as if he was on duty

4 cases of extortion: At least four cases of extortion were registered against Singh in Mumbai and adjoining Thane. During his long police career, he served as commissioner of Mumbai and also Thane.

Transferred: Singh was transferred from the post of Mumbai Police Commissioner in March 2021 after the arrest of Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze by the NIA in connection with the seizure of an explosives-laden SUV from near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence Antilia' in South Mumbai in Feb that year.

Explosive letter to Uddhav: The 1988-batch IPS officer had written an explosive letter to the then CM Uddhav Thackeray, alleging home minister Anil Deshmukh of the NCP had asked police officers to collect ₹100Cr a month from hotels in Mumbai. Deshmukh has denied the charge.