New Delhi: Amid calls for his resignation in light of former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s corruption allegations against him, Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday met Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s residence ‘Varsha’ here.
On March 20, Leader of Opposition in state Assembly and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis had demanded Deshmukh’s resignation over Param Bir Singh’s allegations against Deshmukh.
Singh had, on Saturday, written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that Deshmukh had indulged in “malpractices” and asked suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.
The allegations made by Singh had come a day after Deshmukh had said that Singh was moved out as Mumbai Police Commissioner so that cases pertaining to Waze were probed without obstruction.
Maharashtra Cabinet is scheduled to hold a meeting on Wednesday in Mumbai and is likely to discuss the ongoing issues related to the police department, Singh’s challenge to his transfer to the Home Guards department in the Supreme Court, and DG Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC)’s leave after expressing unhappiness over Maharashtra DGP Rajnish Sheth’s appointment to his post.
Normally, the meeting takes place every week, but due to some reasons it was not convened last week
This will be the first Cabinet meeting after the Maharashtra Budget session concluded on March 10. Also, this meeting holds particular importance because it will also be the first meeting after the Sachin Waze episode came to light.
Maharashtra govt lost moral ground to remain in power, says Devendra Fadnavis
After corruption allegations were levelled against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said that Maha Vikas Aghadi government has lost the moral ground to remain in power.
A delegation of BJP leaders, led by Devendra Fadnavis met the Governor and handed over a memorandum.
“After so many incidents, the Chief Minister is silent. Pawar Sahab held two press conferences, but he just tried to protect the Home Minister. Maha Vikas Aghadi has lost the moral authority to remain in power,” Fadnavis said while addressing a press conference after meeting the Governor.
“If the CM is not saying anything, then the Governor, being the head of the state, should seek report and ask the Chief Minister to speak over all the issues. The main incident should be exposed but along with that bribe and transfer racket should be investigated. Those who brought this racket in the light were punished, but no discussion on those who actually did this racket,” he added.
Hitting out at Congress, he said the party is silent maybe because they are getting a big part from that bribe money.
“We requested the Governor to ask for a report from the Chief Minister on various issues related to governance and COVID-19 in the state. We also requested him to intervene in corruption-related issues,” BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said.
Fadnavis, on Tuesday, handed over purported evidence to the Union Home Secretary regarding the alleged transfer posting racket of IPS and non-IPS officers of Maharashtra Police.
He had sought time from Union Home Secretary to meet him and hand over 6.3 GB of data of call recordings and some documents pertaining to the alleged transfer posting racket of IPS and non-IPS officers of Maharashtra Police.
On March 20, Devendra Fadnavis had demanded Deshmukh’s resignation over Param Bir Singh’s allegations against Deshmukh.
Singh had, on Saturday, written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that Deshmukh had indulged in “malpractices” and asked suspended Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.
