The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea filed by the Maharashtra government challenging the Central Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry into the posting and transfer of police officers by former minister Anil Deshmukh, Bar and Bench reported.
In March, Deshmukh was accused of extorting money from bars, restaurants and hookah parlours in Mumbai by the city’s former police chief Param Bir Singh. The former Maharashtra home minister had allegedly asked suspended police officer Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore every month through illegal channels. The CBI is conducting an inquiry against Deshmukh.
In one paragraph of its first information report, the CBI alleged that Deshmukh had exercised “undue influence” over the transfer and postings of police officers. The Maharashtra government had urged the Bombay High Court to set aside this paragraph but the court rejected its petition on July 22. The court said that the CBI can inquire into this aspect of the case….