Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh on Saturday in a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray made explosive claims alleging that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh (NCP leader) had asked Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore every month from bars, restaurants and other establishments in the state.
In his letter, Param Singh said Sachin Vaze, who was heading the Crime Intelligence Unit of the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police, was called by Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to his official residence Dyaneshwar several times in the last few months and repeatedly instructed to assist in the collection of funds for him.
Param Bir Singh in his letter said, "In and around mid-February and thereafter, Home Minister had called Vaze to his official residence. At that time, one or two staff members of Home Minister including his Personal Secretary, Palande, were also present."
"Home Minister Anil Deshmukh expressed to Vaze that he had a target to accumulate Rs 100 crore a month. For achieving the target, Deshmukh told Vaze that there are about 1,750 bars, restaurants and other establishments in Mumbai and if a sum of Rs 2-3 lakhs each was collected from each of them, a monthly collection of Rs 40-50 crores was achievable."
Param Bir Singh in the letter further accused Maharashtra Home Minister adding that he instructed Vaze to take care of the remaining collection from other sources.
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What Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said in his defence
Responding to Param Bir Singh's claims, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh rejected all the allegations levelled against him and termed them baseless.
"Deshmukh said Sachin Waze's direct links in Antilia Case and Mansukh Hiren Case are coming forward. Param Bir Singh is afraid that its connections will reach up to him. He has made these false allegations to save and protect himself from legal action," Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh tweeted.
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Param Bir Singh's letter not from official email
After Param Bir Singh's big claim, Maharashtra Chief Minister Office (CMO) said that the letter from former Mumbai top cop was received at 4:37 pm today via a different email address, not his official one and was without his signature. The new email address needs to be checked. Home Ministry is trying to contact him for the same.
BJP targets Maha Vikas Aghadi government
Speaking to India TV, BJP Maharashtra president Chandrakant Patil attacked the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government and demanded the resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Chandrakant Patil has also demanded an explanation from Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and said that President's rule should be imposed in the state.
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(With inputs from Dinesh Maurya and Rajiv Singh, India TV)
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