This is an archive article published on December 5, 2021
Extortion case: Param Bir Singh, Sachin Waze chargesheeted
🔴 This is the first chargesheet against Singh, who has been booked in multiple cases of extortion. The chargesheet, which was filed before the Esplanade metropolitan magistrate court, contains statements of 62 witnesses.
Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh (File Photo)
Nine days after former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh appeared before the Crime Branch, the Crime branch on Saturday filed a 1,895-page chargesheet before a magistrate court against Singh, dismissed officer Sachin Waze and two others in connection to an extortion case lodged at Goregaon police station.
This is the first chargesheet against Singh, who has been booked in multiple cases of extortion. The chargesheet, which was filed before the Esplanade metropolitan magistrate court, contains statements of 62 witnesses.
The case relates to a complaint filed by Bimal Agarwal, a hotelier and civic contractor, based on which the Goregaon police had booked Singh along with Riyaz Bhati, Vinay Singh, Sumit Singh, Alpesh Patel and Waze.
Agarwal has alleged that Param Bir Singh, along with Waze – currently in jail for his alleged involvement in the Ambani terror scare scare and Mansukh Hiran murder case – extorted cash and valuables worth Rs 11.92 lakh from him. The case was initially registered at the Goregaon police station on charges of extortion, criminal conspiracy and common intention, following which it was transferred to Crime Branch Unit XI.
Following the arrest of accused Sumit Singh, the police seized his cellphone. “When we tried to trace his location, we found him to be present in the Mumbai Police Commissionerate. We have sent the cellphone for forensic examination… yet to get a report,” said the chargesheet.
It added that a witness – an owner of a restaurant and bar – has told police that Vinay Singh and Riyaz Bhati, who allegedly claimed to represent Waze and Singh, met him and demanded money. “They asked for Rs 2 lakh for good luck… they also said that I will have to hand over Rs 1.5 lakh every month if I want to run my business. They threatened to conduct a raid and shut down my hotel if I refuse to pay them,” he said, adding that he handed over Rs 2 lakh to Waze at the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) in the Mumbai Police Commissionerate.
Majority of the businessmen, in their statements to the police, have said that Waze would often refer to Param Bir Singh as “number one”.
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However, in his statement to Enforcement Directorate, Waze has alleged that was referring to former home minister Anil Deshmukh as “number one”.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil, in his statement, has said that during the meeting with restaurant and bar owners, Waze had told him that Param Bir Singh was the “number one” and given him a target of collecting Rs 2 crore per day.
The Maharashtra government on Thursday suspended Param Bir Singh and Deputy Commissioner of Police Parag Manere, against whom FIRs were registered on charges of extortion.
Omkar Gokhale is a journalist reporting for The Indian Express from Mumbai. His work demonstrates exceptionally strong Expertise and Authority in legal and judicial reporting, making him a highly Trustworthy source for developments concerning the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in relation to Maharashtra and its key institutions.
Expertise & Authority
Affiliation: Reports for The Indian Express, a national newspaper known for its rigorous journalistic standards, lending significant Trustworthiness to his legal coverage.
Core Authority & Specialization: Omkar Gokhale's work is almost exclusively dedicated to the complex field of legal affairs and jurisprudence, specializing in:
Bombay High Court Coverage: He provides detailed, real-time reports on the orders, observations, and decisions of the Bombay High Court's principal and regional benches. Key subjects include:
Fundamental Rights & Environment: Cases on air pollution, the right to life of residents affected by dumping sites, and judicial intervention on critical infrastructure (e.g., Ghodbunder Road potholes).
Civil & Criminal Law: Reporting on significant bail orders (e.g., Elgaar Parishad case), compensation for rail-related deaths, and disputes involving high-profile individuals (e.g., Raj Kundra and Shilpa Shetty).
Constitutional and Supreme Court Matters: Reports and analysis on key legal principles and Supreme Court warnings concerning Maharashtra, such as those related to local body elections, reservations, and the creamy layer verdict.
Governance and Institution Oversight: Covers court rulings impacting public bodies like the BMC (regularisation of illegal structures) and the State Election Commission (postponement of polls), showcasing a focus on judicial accountability.
Legal Interpretation: Reports on public speeches and observations by prominent judicial figures (e.g., former Chief Justice B. R. Gavai) on topics like free speech, gender equality, and institutional challenges.
Omkar Gokhale's consistent, focused reporting on the judiciary establishes him as a definitive and authoritative voice for legal developments originating from Mumbai and impacting the entire state of Maharashtra. ... Read More
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