Justice KU Chandiwal Inquiry Committee slaps ₹25,000 penalty on Param Bir Singh for non-appearance

The single-member high level committee of retired Bombay High Court judge, Justice Kailas Uttamchand Chandiwal imposed a penalty of ₹25,000 on former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh for not appearing before the committee..Justice Chandiwal granted Singh a last chance to appear before the committee stating "it is obvious, the inquiry is to be completed within a scheduled time."He stated that though the questions raised are belated, the inquiry should not be stalled for this reason."Ignoring other aspects and development, the fact remains that the parties will have to adhere to time schedule." he emphasised. The committee directed Singh to deposit the amount of ₹25,000 in Chief Minister's Relief Fund COVID 19 within three days.The committee will convene next on August 25..The Inquiry Committee had been constituted by the Maharashtra government in order to conduct a judicial inquiry into the allegations levelled by Singh against former State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh..Advocate Sanjay Jain and Anukul Seth appearing for Singh informed the committee on Wednesday that Singh has challenged the existence of the committee and summons issued to him by the committee before the Bombay High Court..Param Bir Singh moves Bombay High Court challenging scope of Inquiry Committee of Maharashtra government to enquire into his letter.Jain sought for an adjournment of the hearing, submitting that Singh's plea is likely to be heard by the High Court on August 23. .Advocate Shishir Hirey appearing for the committee informed that apart from Singh's plea, there was also a public interest litigation by a Mumbai based lawyer, Ishant Srivastava, challenging the constitution of the committee. .In July 2021, Singh had assailed the continuance of hearings by the committee before committee itself, which was rejected by Justice Chandiwal. Justice Chandiwal said that the Inquiry Committee was doing exactly what the CBI is doing in terms of investigating into the allegations made by Singh and Waze; yet there was a difference. "The commission is statutory authority and it is not taking a decision. Ultimate end of its report would be in the form of recommendation," Justice Chandiwal had said..The committee had previously also imposed a cost of ₹5,000 on Singh for not appearing before the Committee. This is the second time that a cost has been imposed on Singh..This order of the Inquiry Committee comes on the same day as Supreme Court dismissed the petitions filed by Maharashtra government and Deshmukh challenging a Bombay High Court judgment which refused to quash the Central Bureau of Investigation FIR in the corruption case against Deshmukh.