As the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government battles former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh's allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has called a review meeting of the state's Law and Judiciary Department on Monday at his residence.
The MVA government which comprises Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, has been trying to grapple with the political storm as the opposition BJP staging protests in various cities demanding Deshmukh's resignation.
Here is what has happened so far in the Param Bir Singh case:
1. Former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh, who was under flak after the arrest of police officer Sachin Vaze in the case related to the bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani's house Antilia, was transferred from the post of Mumbai police commissioner to the low-key Home Guards on March 17.
2. Senior IPS officer Hemant Nagrale has replaced Singh as Mumbai police commissioner.
3. On March 20, in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh said he was made a scapegoat and alleged that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh wanted police officers including Sachin Vaze to collect Rs 100 crore per month, half of it from nearly 1,750 bars, restaurants and similar establishments operating in Mumbai.
4. Countering the allegations, Deshmukh said that Singh was transferred in view of "serious and unforgivable mistakes" committed by some colleagues of the top cop. The Home Minister had also denied the allegations of corruption raised against him. He had said that he will file a defamation case against Singh for accusing him of corruption.
5. Two days after Param Bir Singh was shunted out from the post of Mumbai police commissioner, the Shiv Sena defended him saying that his transfer does not make him a criminal, and alleged that a "particular lobby in Delhi" was upset with him as the TRP scam came to light during his tenure.
6. On March 21, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut admitted that the allegations made by Singh against minister Anil Deshmukh, and the Sachin Vaze case have tainted the image of the MVA government in the state, and said all allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.
7. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state unit NCP chief Jayant Patil, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut separately met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi in view of Singh's allegations against Deshmukh. The home department of the state belongs to the Sharad Pawar led-NCP.
8. BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis sought Deshmukh's resignation over the claims made by the IPS officer.
9. Dismissing a rift among the MVA allies, Shiv Sena on March 22 said the govt enjoys a "good majority" and it will not fall because of "one official".
10. Maharashtra BJP delegation will be meeting Governor Bhagat Singh Koshiyari on March 24 over the present situation in Maharashtra.
11. Param Bir Singh on March 22 filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking a probe into the allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Also read: Controversies, thy name is Sachin Vaze
Who is Sachin Vaze?
Former Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Vaze was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with the recovery of explosives-laden Scorpio near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence. Vaze, an "encounter specialist", has also been facing heat in the murder case of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiren, from whose possession the SUV had been allegedly stolen. Hiren was found dead in a creek in the Thane district on March 5. The NIA has also taken over the case related to Hiren.
Facing heat over the Mansukh Hiren death case, Vaze had met Param Bir Singh at the city police headquarters before his arrest.
(With PTI/ANI inputs)
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