'You failed your duty as a police officer if you did not file FIR... ' Bombay HC slams Param Bir Singh

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday rapped former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh for not going ahead and filing an FIR against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh over the allegations levelled by him in his petition before the court.

During the hearing on the petition filed by Param Bir Singh, Bombay High Court Chief Justice CJ Dutta noted that Param Bir Singh was not a common man. "He knows the CrPC well. If he has no faith in the state, he can approach others. This petition in the absence of an FIR prima facie appears to be without substance."

"You remained silent when you found out that your boss was indulging in a crime. You failed your duty as a police officer if you did not register FIR."

Justice Dutta further said, "You are the police chief. Why must the law be set aside for you? Are police officers, ministers and politicians above the law? Are you above the law?"

The Bombay High Court chief justice observed that the first step in the wheel of justice is investigation. 

"If there is no FIR, there is no investigation. Show us from the petition that the home minister said this in your presence. Is there an affidavit by them? Anyone can say I have heard this," he said.

The former Mumbai Police chief had moved the high court after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his plea. 

In his petition, Param Bir Singh sought an unbiased and fair investigation into the allegations of extortion and malpractice levelled by him against the Maharashtra Home Minister. 

He also accused Anil Deshmukh of interference in ongoing police investigations.

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• Bombay High Court
• CBI
• Chief Justice Dipankar Datta
• Maharashtra Home Minister
• anil deshmukh
• bombay
• cbi probe
• high court
• param bir singh