Mr Pawar questioned the timing of Param Bir Singh’s letter saying the allegations were made by him after being shunted out as Commissioner of Mumbai Police.
Allegations made by top cop Param Bir Singh against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh were serious and a decision on the minister’s resignation will be taken after consulting Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar said on Sunday.
Mr Pawar, who played a key role in forming the ruling coalition in Maharashtra, also questioned the timing of Param Bir Singh’s letter saying the allegations were made by him after being shunted out as Commissioner of Mumbai Police to a less important post.
There were two sets of allegations, one against the Home Minister and another against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner, Mr Pawar said.
“There has to be an in-depth inquiry. It should be led by such an officer who enjoys respect within the police and reputation among the masses. My suggestion to the chief minister would be to order an inquiry led by Julio Riberio,” he told reporters.
He would also discuss the issue with the party’s state unit chief Jayant Patil and leader of the NCP Legislature Party Ajit Pawar and decide on the demands for the resignation of Deshmukh, the NCP supremo said.
Sharad Pawar, doubting that the allegations against the Home Minister could be an attempt to destabilise the coalition government, said this would have no effect on the government.
“These allegations in the form of a letter by the Commissioner of Police will have no impact on the stability of the government,” Mr Pawar said adding that the chief minister has the complete authority to seek resignation from the home minister.
The NCP chief, at the same time, said he had not discussed the matter with the chief minister and the resignation of the home minister could be among the two-three alternative plans of action on the discussion table.
Ruling out any link between suspended assistant police inspector Sachin Vaze and the coalition government, Mr Pawar contended that the police officer was reinstated by the Commissioner of Police himself and not by the Home Minister or the Chief Minister.
There was no proof about any transaction between Vaze and Deshmukh and the allegations of Rs 100 crore per month collection in bribes are “laughable”, Mr Pawar said.
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