Param Bir Singh tells Bombay High Court will not "ride on two horses"; agrees not to press for reliefs before Supreme Court in Thane FIR

The Bombay High Court on Monday recorded the statement of the Maharashtra government that it would not take coercive action against former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in a case registered against him under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989..The State said that it would take no such action on the condition that Singh does not move the Supreme Court challenging the First Information Report (FIR) lodged in this case..The Court also recorded the counter-statement of Singh that he will not press for any reliefs pertaining to the present FIR in the pending petition before the Supreme Court. The Bench of Justices SS Shinde and NR Borkar listed the matter for hearing on June 9, 2021 for final disposal. .The FIR against Singh and thirty-two others was registered based on a complaint by Inspector Bhimrao Ghadge at Akola. Singh has been charged for various offences including those related to criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence and offences under the SC/ST Act. The FIR was transferred from the Akola Police Station to Thane in the last week of April..Senior Advocate Darius Khambata, appearing for the State, informed the Court that Singh has filed a petition before the Supreme Court seeking similar reliefs. He also informed the Court about a paragraph in the petition before the apex court which stated that there were two petitions filed by Singh, which were either not taken up on the date of hearing or adjourned to a later date without even giving an opportunity to Singh to be heard.This, Khambata claimed, was incorrect.He also added that the petition failed to disclose about the statement made by the Maharashtra police before the High Court that no coercive action will be taken by the State against Singh till May 21, 2021. He pointed out that the statement in the petition was made on May 16, while the undertaking by the Police was given on May 13, 2021 .Senior Advocate Puneet Bali, who appeared for Singh before the Supreme Court, submitted that the petition in the apex court only seeks transfer of inquiries initiated against Singh by the Maharashtra government to another State and to a different investigating agency.He argued that the Supreme Court was informed about the statement made before the High Court. "Why would we not inform the Supreme Court about an order in our favour?" he exclaimed. .The Court directed Singh to ensure that steps are taken to withdraw this statement made in the petition before the Supreme Court. In the meanwhile, it also clarified that while they are willing to hear the matter, the vacation bench would be sitting only for a week, and thereafter another bench will sit. Therefore, the Court suggested that the matter be kept after vacation for final disposal.Advocate Satish Talekar, appearing for the complainant, requested the Court to vacate the interim relief granted by the Court on Friday. "Can you not wait for two weeks? He was not arrested for the last 5 years, what is going to happen in 2 weeks now?" the Court enquired..Senior Advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for Singh, submitted that the necessary steps would be taken. He also agreed that the Supreme Court petition will not be moved till the next date.He asked Bali to withdraw from the Supreme Court petition, any submission pertaining to the present FIR under challenge before the High Court. He said,"They are right, he cannot ride on two horses!".Pursuant to statements made by both parties, the Court called for written notes of arguments of all counsel before the matter is to be heard. "We are happy a consensus has been arrived at," the Bench expressed. .Singh in his plea sought quashing of the FIR and also prayed for an order directing CBI to inquire into the criminal conspiracy and malicious attempts to pressurise him and others to thwart another CBI investigation initiated against Deshmukh based on a complaint lodged by one Dr Jaishri Laxmanrao Patil which itself was based on Singh's letter to Thackeray..The Bombay High Court had given its green signal to that CBI probe.Singh claimed after that CBI probe was initiated, he was subjected to multiple inquiries pressurise him and to force him to withdraw the complaint..In an intervention application filed before the apex court, Mumbai Police officer Bhimraj Rohidas Ghadge opposed the transfer of cases filed against Singh to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).He had also claimed that Singh misused his position as Commissioner of Police to implicate him in several false and frivolous cases, and that he was not given a promotion because he belonged to a lower caste.."He has defamed the police force:" Mumbai Police officer moves Supreme Court opposing Param Bir Singh plea for transfer of cases to CBI