Anil Deshmukh Alleges Fadnavis Shielded Ex-Police Chief in Plot to Topple MVA Government

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh accused Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis of protecting ex-Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh from arrest by asking him to make allegations against Deshmukh to destabilize the MVA government. The BJP dismissed the charges, calling it a strategy to defame Fadnavis.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Monday alleged that Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis attempted to shield former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh from arrest by urging him to lodge accusations against Deshmukh to overthrow the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has rebuffed these charges as a manoeuvre to tarnish Fadnavis' reputation, questioning how an opposition leader could request such actions from a police officer.

During the 2021 tenure of the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government, Deshmukh stepped down as home minister after Singh accused him of setting a monthly collection target of Rs 100 crore from bars and restaurants. Deshmukh further claimed ousted officer Sachin Waze was acting on Fadnavis's behest in making allegations against him.

(With inputs from agencies.)