Deshmukh Claims Bomb Scare 'Mastermind' Singh Targeted Him on Fadnavis' Behest

Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has accused Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis of attempting to protect ex-Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh from arrest. Deshmukh claimed that Fadnavis asked Singh to make allegations against him to destabilise the MVA government.

Allegations Against Singh

During a press conference in Nagpur, Deshmukh labelled Singh as the mastermind behind the 2021 bomb scare near Mukesh Ambani's residence and the subsequent murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran. Both Fadnavis and Singh have denied these accusations.

Deshmukh resigned as home minister in 2021 after Singh accused him of setting a target to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from Mumbai bars and restaurants. Deshmukh also alleged that dismissed officer Sachin Waze made accusations against him under Fadnavis' influence.

Waze's Involvement

Waze is accused of planting an SUV with explosives outside Ambani's residence in February 2021 and is also charged with Hiran's murder. When questioned about Fadnavis' comments on Singh and Waze's appointments, Deshmukh reiterated that Singh was behind the bomb scare and Hiran's killing.

Deshmukh claimed that Singh surrendered to Fadnavis and the central government to avoid arrest three years ago. He alleged that Fadnavis assured Singh he wouldn't be arrested if he levelled allegations against Deshmukh to topple the MVA government.

Chandiwal Commission Report

Deshmukh has challenged Fadnavis, now the home minister, to release the Justice Chandiwal Commission report, claiming it exonerates him in the graft case. Fadnavis stated that the report was submitted during the MVA's tenure but no action was taken.

Countering this, Deshmukh said the report was submitted just before the MVA government fell, preventing its release. He claimed the Shiv Sena-BJP Mahayuti government has held onto the report for two years and urged Fadnavis to make it public.

Defamation Claims

Regarding banners allegedly defaming him in Nagpur by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Deshmukh claimed they were put up with Fadnavis' approval. He noted that police have since removed them.

Responding to Deshmukh's claims, Deputy CM Fadnavis told reporters, "Jhooth bole kauva kaate...kaale kauve se dariyo," implying one should not lie or face consequences without elaborating further.

BJP state spokesperson Chandan Goswami accused the opposition INDIA alliance and MVA of lying, including claims about changing the Constitution. Goswami questioned how an opposition leader could ask a police commissioner for such actions when Singh was appointed by the MVA government.

Meanwhile, former Mumbai police commissioner Singh refuted Deshmukh's allegations in a Marathi news channel interview, stating that Deshmukh has lost his mental balance. "Whatever allegations I had made, all were substantiated and were also covered in investigations conducted by the ED and the CBI," said Singh.

Singh alleged that Deshmukh collected money from Mumbai and other places through various agents, with evidence emerging during investigations. He also claimed he was threatened after making graft allegations against Deshmukh.

Singh further alleged that then-DGP Sanjay Pandey threatened him and that he provided evidence to this effect before the CBI and Supreme Court.