Since Dilip Walse Patil took over the home department from Anil Deshmukh in April, the failure of law enforcement agencies to execute a non-bailable warrant against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who is allegedly involved in a series of extortion cases, has been the biggest embarrassment for him.
The CID first issued a notice against him on July 12. On September 7, the Chandiwal commission issued a bailable warrant, and the metropolitan magistrates issued three non-bailable warrants in a succession. The Chandiwal commission had requested that the state CID serve a bailable warrant on Parambir Singh at his last known residential location, and when that request was denied, the committee issued a second bailable warrant.
The CID told the commission that despite its best efforts, it was unable to locate Singh. The Thane chief metropolitan magistrate instructed a police station’s senior inspector to ensure his appearance in court. For an offence reported to the Marine police station, another non-bailable warrant was issued. A third relates to a crime reported to the Goregaon police station.
Since Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam has claimed that he departed India long ago, the main point is whether the look notice was served at relevant exits in India as per process.
Cleansing LBT department
Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Bangar has initiated a crackdown against erring LBT personnel, a week after a team of Thane anti-corruption bureau officials led by Punjabrao Ugle caught a Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation local body clerk demanding Rs 3 lakh and collecting Rs 1 lakh as a first instalment. Bangar took the initial move by removing all 33 officials linked to the LBT. They’ve been moved to a branch where they won’t be related with any LBT files in any way.
It was the first time in the department’s history that a municipal panel took such drastic measures to clean it up. Bangar’s task will be made more difficult by the fact that the trapped official must be convicted and sentenced to prison.
He’ll have to knock on the court’s doors to get a speedy trial in the matter. Bangar’s actions must now be followed by municipal commissioners across the state.
