“Waze reported directly to Uddhav; Deshmukh used to call him to his bungalow”: Ex-Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 10 (ANI): Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh said on Saturday that dismissed police inspector Sachin Waze used to report directly to Uddhav Thackeray, and Anil Deshmukh used to call him to his bungalow.

Param Bir singh said that not only Waze, but other officers were also called by political leaders to their places.

“Sachin Waze’s reinstatement happened on the orders of Anil Deshmukh and Uddhav Thackeray. I have mentioned this in my statements to the agencies as well. Before this, I never worked with Sachin Waze. He used to report directly to Uddhav Thackeray. Anil Deshmukh also used to call him to his bungalow. Such practices completely disrupted the department’s line of command– calling officers to bungalows and directly demanding extortion from them. So, blaming me regarding Sachin Waze is completely wrong,” he said.

“Not only Waze but other officers were also called by political leaders,” he added.

The former Mumbai Police Commissioner further said that he doubts whether Anil Deshmukh is in proper medical condition.

“For three years, Anil Deshmukh did not say anything like this. I seriously doubt whether he is in proper medical condition. Probably, he needs psychiatric treatment and certainly, out of the blue, he started making allegations against me. I completely stayed away from indulging in this. Since he took my name, I defended myself that these all were bogus allegations,” Param Bir Singh said.

Deshmukh alleged on Sunday that the corruption charges against him were made by dismissed police inspector Sachin Waze and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Singh three years ago, claiming it was done on the instruction of Devendra Fadnavis, now Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister.

Anil Deshmukh, a senior NCP (SCP) leader, claimed earlier this month that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had told Param Bir Singh to make allegations against Deshmukh in a bid to topple the government led by Uddhav Thackeray.

Anil Deshmukh resigned in April 2021 following Param Bir Singh’s allegations of corruption against him when MVA government was in power in the state. Param Bir Singh had accused Deshmukh of setting a monthly target to collect Rs 100 crore from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

Maharashtra will face assembly polls later this year and both the ruling alliance and opposition parties have started making preparations.