Mumbai: Crime Branch moves court against 'absconding accused' Param Bir Singh

MUMBAI: The Crime Branch on Saturday moved a plea before the magistrate’s court seeking issuance of proclamation against absconding accused, former city police commissioner Param Bir Singh, and two others -- Vinay Singh and Chhota Shakeel aide Riyaz Bhatti -- in an alleged extortion case.
The Crime Branch said that a non-bailable warrant was earlier issued by the court. Searches at their homes also did not yield results.
The Crime Branch said that during Singh’s house search at Malabar Hill, the police guard told them that neither his family nor he had been home in three months. The plea also invoked section 83 of the CrPC through which an absconding accused's properties can be attached.
The holiday court has directed the prosecution to move the plea before the incharge court on Monday.
The magistrate court on Wednesday issued a non-bailable warrant against Singh in an extortion case. This was the third such non-bailable warrant issued against him. A confidential report of the state is believed to have stated that Singh is in Chandigarh.
Last month, a Thane court as well as the 37th metropolitan court issued non-bailable warrants against Singh in connection with two extortion cases registered against him and others.
Singh went on a leave in May this year citing health issues after he wrote to the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray making serious allegations of corruption against the state’s then home minister. He’s been off duty since then.