'Wonder What Would Happen To A Common Man': SC Grants Protection From Arrest To Param Bir Singh

The Supreme Court has passed an interim order protecting Param Bir Singh, the former Mumbai Police Commissioner from arrest in the criminal cases lodged against him in Maharashtra.

The Court has sought responses from the state government, its DGP and the CBI on Param Bir Singh's plea challenging the Judgment of the Bombay High Court dismissing the petitions filed by him challenging the inquiry ordered against him by the Maharashtra Government. The Bombay High Court had dismissed the petitions as not maintainable.

Param Bir Singh, who had accused the then Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh of corruption, has alleged frame-up in criminal cases.

Besides seeking protection from coercive steps, Singh has sought a probe by CBI into the entire issue involving him.

A Bench comprising Justice S K Kaul and Justice M M Sundresh issued notices to the Maharashtra government, its DGP Sanjay Pande and the CBI on Singh's plea.

The Bench observed that it finds the WhatsApp messages produced before it very disturbing. Singh claimed that he had been threatened to withdraw the allegations against Ex-Home Minister Anil Deshmukh. In this context, the Court wondered what would happen to a common man since Singh had held a very senior position in the Police force.

Issue notice, returnable on December 6. In the meantime, the petitioner shall join the investigation and shall not be arrested, the Bench ordered.

With PTI inputs