MUMBAI: In a no-holds-barred attack on the ruling coalition, MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Sunday demanded resignation of state home minister Anil Deshmukh in the wake of allegations levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.
The MNS chief backed the move to have the case of the explosive-laden vehicle placed near Mukesh Ambani’s residence investigated by a Central agency and sought a probe into Deshmukh’s role by a central agency saying Maharashtra government cannot be entrusted with such a sensitive matter.
He said no policeman would dare to place explosives near Ambani’s residence without instructions from the top.
He pointed the finger at his cousin and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, saying Waze, the cop arrested in connection with the case, was close to the chief minister. "The person who introduced Waze in the Shiv Sena should come out,” said MNS chief.
Raj said going by former CM Devendra Fadnavis’s statements, Uddhav Thackeray had urged Fadnavis to reinstate Waze, who was under suspension for about 17 years and jailed for about 58 days in the Khwaja Yunus case. “What does it mean? It means that Waze was very close to CM and party president Uddhav Thackeray,” said Raj. He also said Deshmukh should resign on his own or be sacked.
Former top cop Singh alleged in a letter to CM Thackeray that Deshmukh had asked Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month from bars and restaurants. Raj said, “Bars and restaurants do not exist in Mumbai only, they are across the state. He is the home minister of the state. So, it should be checked if he has asked other police commissioners too,” said Raj..