Param Bir Singh, the former Mumbai police chief, was given protection by the Supreme Court on Monday after his counsel stated that he was “not absconding, and is in India.” The confirmation came days after the court declined to give him bail and demanded his whereabouts. Singh’s counsel told the Supreme Court that Singh “does not want to flee and does not want to escape anyplace,” but that he is in danger of losing his life. “
At least four extortion charges have been filed against Singh. The apex court had inquired about his whereabouts at the most recent session on Thursday. “Where have you gone?” Are you a citizen of this nation or a foreigner? Are you in some sort of state? Where have you gone? We’ll get to the rest later. The court had stated, “First, we need to know where you are.” The senior police officer had appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court’s September 16 decision rejecting his plea challenging the Maharashtra government’s two preliminary probes.
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The Mumbai Police had gone to court in connection with a case filed on the basis of a complaint filed by hotelier Bimal Agarwal, accusing Singh and former Mumbai officer Sachin Waze of extortion. This came after the Supreme Court said on November 18 that it would not hear a petition filed by Singh challenging the Maharashtra government’s inquiries into his disappearance until the absconding officer provided the Court with information about his whereabouts. “
Singh has been missing for several weeks, and a Mumbai court last week granted Mumbai Police’s request to have him declared a “proclaimed criminal.” On Thursday last week, the Supreme Court voiced questions about Singh’s ability to flee the country. It then requested that the attorneys for Singh get directions in this respect before proceeding with the matter.
“We might be mistaken, but how can we offer it to you if you are in another country awaiting Supreme Court orders? “The Court had asked for it. The Court was considering an appeal from the Bombay High Court, which had dismissed Singh’s petition challenging two preliminary investigations launched by the Maharashtra government on September 16.
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While Singh’s appeal to the Bombay High Court sought a CBI investigation, the High Court directed the petitioner to contact the Central Administrative Tribunal, according to Bali (CAT). The Supreme Court then proceeded to send notice of the appeal to the Maharashtra government, while also allowing Singh temporary relief.
