MUMBAI: In the first chargesheet submitted against former city police chief Param Bir Singh before Esplanade court, the crime branch on Saturday alleged that from statements of witnesses, it has been established that he was the "Number 1" at whose behest dismissed API Sachin Waze was extorting money from bookies and hotel and bar owners.
"It has been established that the accused Param Bir Singh through arrested accused (dismissed API) Sachin Waze and other accused extorted bookies, hotel and bar owners across Mumbai by threatening to arrest them in crimes and raiding their establishments," said the chargesheet submitted by special public prosecutor Shekhar Jagtap.
A witness, ACP Sanjay Patil, allegedly said that during a meeting with hotel and bar owners, Waze had said that No. 1, meaning Singh, had given him a target of collecting Rs 2 crore daily. The witness said "Number 1" was Singh.
The chargesheet said witnesses have said Waze was a special aide of Singh. "In the police department, the police commissioner is the topmost official. While extorting money, Waze had told witnesses he had done so for No. 1," the chargesheet said.
Criminal conspiracy, 2 more charges invoked against Param, Waze, others
“From their statements it is clear that Number 1 is Param Bir Singh,” stated the first chargesheet submitted against the former city police commissioner and now suspended cop.
Also, part of the chargesheet is the statement of one Narayan Mundada who had alleged dismissed cop Waze had told him from the collection made from bookies across Mumbai, Singh would keep 75% while the remaining 25% would be given to Waze. Mundada said on August 31, 2020, complainant Bimal Agarwal called him to the “Unit 11” office. He said in a meeting with Waze, Agarwal and dismissed cop Sunil Mane were present. The witness said Waze told him Singh had instructed him to make collections from all bookies across Mumbai.
The chargesheet also invoked three new charges against the accused, including criminal conspiracy. This was done in light of the statement of a witness from whom Rs 35 lakh was extorted by Waze. The witness, Manan Nayak, alleged that he paid up Rs 35 lakh in October 2020 to another accused, Alpesh Patel, at Waze’s behest after he was threatened to be implicated in a criminal case relating to bookies.
“Fearing he will be falsely implicated in a bookie case, he told his friend Bimal Agarwal about it. When Agrawal spoke to Waze, he told him there was a lot of pressure from CP Param Bir Singh, the witness will be arrested or will have to cough up Rs 2 crore,” the witness said. Later, it was decided that Nayak would pay Rs 35 lakh.
The chargesheet said it was established on August 31, 2020, Waze had conducted a meeting on extorting bookies at crime branch, Unit 11, Kandivli (West). Statements of five bar owners are included in the chargesheet. They said they were present at he meeting, and that money was being collected for Number 1. Witness Mahesh Shetty and two others said that Number 1 was the police commissioner.
The chargesheet further said despite Waze being an API, Singh made him the head of CIU and also handed him investigations in big cases. “This establishes that Param Bir Singh trusted him,” it said.
Statements of five key witnesses, including ACP Sanjay Patil, were recorded before the magistrate under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Three witnesses, among whom were the cashier and manager of complainant Bimal Agarwal's Andheri- based BCB Bar and Restaurant, said in December 2020, accused Sumit Singh and absconding accused Vinay Singh and Riyaz Bhati came to the hotel claiming to be Waze and Singh’s men. The accused said if they wanted to run the restaurant smoothly, they would have to pay good luck money of Rs 2 lakh and monthly Rs 1.5 lakh.
Another witness is police officer Kedari Pawar, part of the property cell where the case against a bookie was registered. He said Waze called him to the CIU office. The witness said in that meeting in front of Agarwal, Waze said “CP Saheb” had given him a target for collection from bookies. The witness alleged Waze told him Manan Nayak was named. The witness claimed on October 4 or 5, 2020, Waze called him to office and told him a settlement was finalised with Nayak and Rs 35 lakh paid to Alpesh Patel.
Jagtap told the court, “Param Bir Singh committed a heinous act of extortion and the protection under the Criminal Procedure Code cannot be extended to him.” Waze is in custody in the Antilia bomb scare case. His co-accused, dismissed cop Sunil Mane, is among the witnesses in the extortion case.
