Cops want ‘proclamation’ issued against ex-Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh

MUMBAI: The crime branch will move 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 where they threatened a businessman and hotelier and extorted money. The crime branch said that a non-bailable warrant was issued by the court on October 30, but the trio were not available at their respective addresses. It alleged that they had gone into hiding after the case was registered.
Special public prosecutor Shekhar Jagtap said that once proclamation is issued by the court, an accused has to appear within 30 days. “If an accused fails to appear within this time, then proceedings can commence for attachment of their properties,” Jagtap said.
The crime branch moved the plea before the court on Saturday. However, it was referred to the in-charge court, where the crime branch will file the plea on Monday. The plea will also invoke Section 83 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), through which an absconding accused’s properties can be attached.
The crime branch said that cops had gone to Param Bir Singh’s Malabar Hill home on November 10. But due to his absence, the warrant could not be served. The statements of a police guard stationed at the building and the cook were recorded.
The police guard told them that for the last three months, Singh had not come to the building. He said Singh’s family also did not live there, and he did not know the whereabouts of any of them. The cook said that he had been living and working in the building for over a year. He too said that neither Singh nor his family had been to the premises in the last three months.
Vinay Singh’s wife told cops that he had not been to their Kandivli apartment since the FIR was registered in the case. She also claimed that he had not been in touch with her. The woman said she was unaware about his current location. At Bhatti’s Versova home, his wife too gave a similar statement.
On Wednesday, the magistrate court issued a non-bailable warrant against Singh in an extortion case. This was the third such non-bailable warrant issued against Singh.
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.