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Tag: Maharashtra Home Minister

  • Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil halts speech for ‘azaan’; criticizes MNS chief Raj Thackeray over recent statement

    By PTI

    PUNE: Amid a controversial statement by MNS chief Raj Thackeray on countering azaan from mosque loudspeakers with Hanuman Chalisa, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil halted his speech in Pune’s Shirur area when the Muslim call for prayer was being made nearby.

    A video of the incident went viral on social media platforms.

    His cabinet colleague Ajit Pawar had done something similar while speaking in Pune some time ago.

    Speaking at another event in the district, Walse Patil said there are several real issues such as petrol price hike, inflation, unemployment and the poor economic condition of the country to talk about, but attempts are being to create tension between communities.

    Criticizing Thackeray’s statement on azaan, he said Muslims have faith in their religion, while Hindus have faith in their religion.

    “Instead of thinking about welfare, education and development, there is an attempt to create conflict between two communities and make the country’s politics unstable.

    This can lead to the country getting weakened, after which we will not be able to live in harmony,” Walse Patil said.

    He added that the police will look into such statements.

    “Some people have decided to go to court. After court orders, we will take appropriate measures,” he said.

  • Witnesses turning hostile, ATS lawyers to be present at Malegaon blast trial: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Noting that prosecution witnesses in the 2008 Malegaon blast case are turning hostile, Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse-Patil on Saturday said the lawyers of the state ATS would attend the ongoing trial before the special NIA court.

    The case had been initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad before the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took it over.

    “Recently some witnesses have turned hostile…we will have our lawyers present in the court during the hearing from now on,” Walse-Patil told reporters.

    The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) would communicate with the central agency on this, he added.

    Earlier this week, state Congress working president and former Minister of State for Home Naseem Khan had met additional director general of police Vineet Agarwal who heads the ATS over the issue.

    In a memorandum to the ATS, Khan demanded that ATS lawyers be present in the NIA court here during the trial.

    The accused in the case include Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP MP from Bhopal who is out on bail.

    So far, 16 out of 223 witnesses who deposed have turned hostile, accusing the ATS of torturing and forcing them to give false statements, Khan had said in the memo, adding that to defend the state and ATS’ image, its lawyers should be present in the court.

    Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.

  • Maharashtra announces Rs 50 lakh aid to kin of police personnel who died due to COVID-19

    By ANI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil announced compensation of Rs 50 lakh each to the families of police personnel who died on duty due to COVID-19.

    “Several police officials have lost their lives in the line of duty due to the virus. To extend help to the families of the officials who died due to COVID-19, the state government has decided to provide a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each,” he said during an inauguration event in Pune.

    Assuring the police force of his support to them, Patil added, “The proposal that a constable should retire as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in the department is in the pipeline.”

    “The issue of utmost importance- housing for the department will also be addressed with the Rs 700 crore allocation made in the budget,” he added.

    Patil, along with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar inaugurated two Police Welfare Petrol Pumps in Pune today. The units will be operated by women staff.

    The petrol pumps are located near the rural police headquarters in Pune and the revenue generated from the two would be used for rural police welfare.

    During his address at the inauguration ceremony, Patil said that the police department works under challenging conditions to save society, and the pressure on the department due to the COVID-19 pandemic increased immensely.

    Highlighting the police department’s hard work during the times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dy CM Pawar said, “If we take care of each other and take responsibility for each other, then only can we be able to control the situation.” 

  • CBI registers FIR against Anil Deshmukh, searches properties as NCP cries foul

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI:  The CBI on Saturday registered an FIR against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in an alleged corruption case and also carried out searches at multiple locations linked to him and his close associates.

    Anil Deshmukh has been charged under Section 7 of the amended Prevention of Corruption Act dealing with illegal gratification obtained by a public servant and IPC Section 120 B (criminal conspiracy). Deshmukh has said he will cooperate with the probe agency.

    The FIR was registered on April 21 after the CBI satisfied itself that there was enough evidence to proceed with a regular case against Deshmukh. The searches could not be launched immediately as the team had to first get an RT-PCR test done for COVID-19. The probe agency seized electronic gadgets and incriminating documents from four locations across Maharashtra in a case related to Deshmukh and others.

    Deshmukh belongs to the NCP, a party of the three-party ruling alliance in the state. State party chief Jayant Patil on Saturday termed the FIR against his party colleague as political vendetta for settling political scores. He said the CBI was overstepping its mandate. “The Bombay High Court had asked it to conduct a primary inquiry and submit the report. What happened with the report? Has the report been submitted? No one knows the details of the report.” 

  • CBI registers FIR against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in alleged bribery case

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The CBI has registered an FIR against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh in connection with allegations of bribery against him and carried out searches at various locations in Mumbai on Saturday, officials said.

    The probe agency had carried out a preliminary enquiry on the orders of the Bombay High Court to look into bribery allegations against him levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, they said.

    According to the officials, during the enquiry, the CBI got enough prima facie material to start a formal probe by registering a regular case against Deshmukh and other unidentified persons under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

    After registering the case, the CBI started a search operation at a number of locations, including the premises of Deshmukh, in Mumbai, they said.

    On March 25, Param Bir Singh had filed criminal public interest litigation seeking a CBI probe against Deshmukh who, he claimed, had asked police officers, including suspended cop Sachin Waze, to extort Rs 100 crore from bars and restaurants.

    Waze is facing an NIA probe in the case of explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house in Mumbai.

    Singh had initially approached the Supreme Court, alleging he was transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner after he complained to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders about the “corrupt malpractices” of Deshmukh.

    The apex court had termed the matter as quite serious but asked Singh to approach the high court.

    Singh then filed the PIL in the high court, reiterating his allegations against Deshmukh and seeking an “immediate, unbiased, impartial” probe by the CBI against Deshmukh, who is an NCP leader.

    The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress share power in Maharashtra.

  • Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh appears before CBI

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh appeared before the CBI on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, an official said.

    Deshmukh reached the DRDO guest house, where a team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is camping to, in suburban Santacruz around 10 am, he said.

    The CBI on Monday issued a notice calling Deshmukh to join the agency’s probe into the allegations levelled against him by Param Bir Singh and suspended police officer Sachin Waze, the official said.

    Waze, an assistant police inspector, is under investigation in the case of an explosive-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in south Mumbai.

    The CBI is conducting a preliminary enquiry into the allegations against Deshmukh levelled by Singh after he was removed from the post of Mumbai police commissioner.

    The allegations were reportedly corroborated by Waze in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is conducting a probe into the SUV case, officials earlier said.

    The Bombay High Court last week directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations levelled by Singh against Deshmukh.

    In a letter, Singh had claimed that Deshmukh asked Waze to allegedly extort over Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in Mumbai.

    Deshmukh has denied the allegations.

    So far, the CBI has recorded statements of Param Bir Singh, Sachin Waze, Deputy Commissioner of Police Raju Bhujbal, Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil, advocate Jayshree Patil and hotel owner Mahesh Shetty.

    It also questioned Deshmukh’s personal assistant Kundan Shinde and personal secretary Sanjeev Palande on Sunday.

  • Param Bir letter row: Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh quits after Bombay HC orders CBI probe

    By Online Desk
    Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has resigned, NCP minister Nawab Malik said on Monday. 

    After meeting with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and offering to step down, Deshmukh reached Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence to submit his resignation. 

    The resignation came soon after the Bombay High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to conduct a preliminary inquiry within 15 days into allegations of corruption and misconduct made against Deshmukh by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh. 

    Deshmukh also tweeted a copy of the letter, in which he said the high court had passed an order for a preliminary probe by the CBI into the petition filed by advocate Jayshri Patil into the allegations.

    “The High Court has ordered a CBI inquiry against me. It will not be morally right for me to remain in the position of the home minister position. Therefore for a fair probe, I have decided to step down,” Deshmukh wrote in his resignation letter.

    pic.twitter.com/xVZrfwmwPl
    — ANIL DESHMUKH (@AnilDeshmukhNCP) April 5, 2021

    — Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) April 5, 2021

    After the court order, Deshmukh met NCP president Sharad Pawar and expressed his desire to step down as he felt it was inappropriate to continue in office after the CBI steps in, Malik said.

    “Deshmukh went to hand over the letter to Thackeray after Pawar gave his “green signal” to quit,” Malik said.

    Singh’s allegations are baseless but the party respects the court and hence the minister will quit, Malik said, adding the truth will come out.

    “The state government has already ordered a probe by a retired judge into the claims but we respect the judiciary and after the court orders, Deshmukh himself said he doesn’t wish to continue,” Malik said, referring to his party colleague.

    After Deshmukh’s resignation the home department will be with the chief minister, who would decide after consulting the MVA allies on who would be the new home minister, he said.

    There is speculation that Dilip Walse Patil, another NCP minister, may get the Home portfolio.

    State BJP chief Chandrakant Patil said he is happy that Deshmukh has quit, adding there will be many “shocking revelations” in the CBI probe.

    “Those who make mistakes should be punished or else democracy won’t be strengthened.

    Many skeletons will tumble out after the 15-day CBI preliminary probe,” he said.

    In Param Bir’s letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, days after he was transferred as Mumbai police chief before the end of his term, he alleged that Deshmukh had given a target to collect Rs 100 crore from bars and restaurants to Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze. 

    Deshmukh had denied the allegations.

    (With PTI inputs)

  • Allegations against Deshmukh: Sharad Pawar trying to save Maha govt, says Fadnavis

    By PTI
    NAGPUR: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in view of allegations of corruption levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

    Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis contested Pawar’s assertion that neither chief minister Uddhav Thackeray nor Deshmukh was responsible for reinstating controversial police officer Sachin Waze in the Mumbai police force last year.

    Days after he was shunted as Mumbai police commissioner, Singh wrote a letter to the CM claiming Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, had asked Sachin Waze and other police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

    “Waze was given important cases and also got key posts in the police department.

    Is it possible without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis questioned.

    The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly also questioned Pawar’s statement that the latter would suggest the CM to seek retired IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Singh.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    “As the architect of the MVA government (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress), Pawar is trying to save the government.

    Pawar’s press conference today is an attempt to save the government.

    The presser is just a window dressing.

    Actually, it is an attempt to move away from truth,” Fadnavis alleged.

    He reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations raised by Singh.

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh.

    But how is it possible that Waze was given important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” “Pawar should say that Waze was reinstated on the instructions of the CM and the home minister, and with their blessings, he was given key cases and postings,” the former chief minister claimed.

    Fadnavis also said how could Ribeiro, who retired 15 years ago, can conduct an “inquiry of Param Bir Singh and the home minister.

    Will he have that authority and can he conduct a fair probe? Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in Nagpur demanding resignation of Deshmukh over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was also organised by workers of the BJP Yuva Morcha outside the residence of Deshmukh here.

    Meanwhile, Fadnavis claimed that allegations were raised earlier against state Home department by a top police officer.

    “Param Bir Singh is not the first person to raise such allegations.

    Earlier, a report was submitted by then Maharashtra DGP Subodh Jaiswal about a racket involving touts in transferring police officials in exchange of money, but the state government didn’t take any action on that report.

    Jaiswal had submitted the report containing full transcript to the chief minister and the home minister via the then commissioner of Intelligence,” he said.

    Subsequently, Jaiswal opted out of an important posting as the DGP and went on a Central deputation because the state government did not initiate any inquiry on the report submitted by him, Fadnavis said, adding that rather action was taken against the then state “Commissioner of Intelligence” Rashmi Shukla.

    “The current situation wouldn’t have arose had the state government acted on the report of Jaiswal and Shukla,” he said.

    Fadnavis also demanded that officials and other persons who had used vehicles that were found possession of Waze be investigated.

  • NCP chief Sharad Pawar says Param Bir Singh’s claims serious; decision on Anil Deshmukh on Monday

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Sunday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who is facing corruption allegations by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh.

    Pawar’s comments came during a media briefing at Delhi amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

    The allegations leveled by Singh against Deshmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe, Pawar said.

    Singh has claimed Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

    ALSO READ | Letter from Param Bir Singh sent via unofficial email id without signature: Uddhav’s office

    Pawar suggested that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision in this matter and also action against Deshmukh.

    Pawar said neither Thackeray nor Deshmukh were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.

    The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singh’s letter.

    “I would suggest Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Param Bir Singh,” he said.

    It was not clear if Ribeiro is willing to be roped in.

    “We will take a decision on Deshmukh by tomorrow,” he said.

    Deshmukh’s side also needs to be heard before taking any decision, he added.

    Pawar said Singh had complained to him aboutpolitical interference in police department.

    He said Singh had spoken of reports about his transfer, saying it would be an injustice to him.

    Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.

    There is no impact on the MVA government because of Singh’s allegations, Pawar said.

    Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but they will prove futile, he added.

    ALSO READ: Param Bir Singh letter bomb – Full text of former Mumbai top cop’s letter to Maharashtra CM

    In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh alleged that Deshmukh used to call police officers to his official residence and give them a “collection target” from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut admitted that the allegations made by Singh against Deshmukh and about the Waze case have tainted the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Raut saio all the MVA allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.

    Former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi government amid allegations of corruption leveled by Singh against Deshmukh.

    “How were important postings and cases given to Waze without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    “As the architect of the MVA government, Pawar is trying to save it, Fadnavis said and reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations made by Singh.

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh.

    But how is it possible that he got important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” Fadnavis said.

    Former MP Sanjay Nirupam said his Congress party must take a stand on Singh’s claim that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

    Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in various parts of the state demanding Deshmukh’s resignation over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square in Nagpur and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was organised by BJP Yuva Morcha wokers outside Deshmukh’s residence in Nagpur.

  • Cop Sachin Vaze’s name came in statement of Mansukh Hiren’s wife: Anil Deshmukh

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday said that the government has decided to remove Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze from the Crime Branch because his name came up in the statement of Mansukh Hiren’s wife.

    “The government has decided to remove Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze from the Crime Branch. His name came up in the statement of Mansukh Hiren’s wife,” said Deshmukh.

    Earlier in the Legislative Assembly today, Anil Deshmukh had said that Sachin Vaze will be removed from the Crime Branch and posted in some other department to ensure impartial investigation in Mansukh Hiren’s death case.

    BJP members shout slogans and created a ruckus after the home minister announced the transfer of Sachin Vaze from the Crime Branch, demanded his suspension and arrest.

    Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis also moved a motion of breach of privilege against Anil Deshmukh

    A car carrying unassembled explosive materials was found abandoned at Carmichael Road in South Mumbai on February 25, near the house of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

    The owner of the vehicle, Mansukh Hiren, was found dead in a creek in the Thane district on Friday. Now, ATS Maharashtra is investigating the case.