Cops named by ex-CP say they met Anil Deshmukh for Assembly briefings

Former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh addresses a press briefing at Vidhan Bhavan on the last day of the Budget Session on March 10. File pic

As part of the investigation into the allegations leveled by former commissioner of police Param Bir Singh against former home minister Anil Deshmukh, the Mumbai Police recorded the statements of two cops - Deputy Commissioner of Police (Enforcement) Raju Bhujbal and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjay Patil. In his letter to the chief minister, Param Bir Singh had mentioned the names of these two officers and that they were called by Deshmukh, who allegedly asked them to collect funds from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Milind Bharambe recorded both the statements and the same have been submitted to the state government.

‘Had to brief seniors'

In his statement, DCP Raju Bhujbal said, "I was asked by Joint CP (crime) whether I met the home minister and his personal secretary Palande on March 4 at Dnyaneshwar, along with Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sanjay Patil. With regard to any discussion on collection of funds from restaurants and bars, I want to say that I am working as deputy commissioner of police (Enforcement), and was appointed as nodal officer of the Assembly session so that I could brief the superiors. From March 1 to 10, the Budget Session of the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly was in progress and it was my responsibility to brief the home minister and other officers. On March 4, I was present in the meeting with the home minister and his personal secretary at Dnyaneshwar to discuss Legislative Assembly Questions. After the meeting was over, Patil informed Palande that there was no substance in the information related to establishments. Thereafter, we left the official residence."

Former CP Param Bir Singh

‘No substance in the matter'

In his statement to the police, ACP Sanjay Patil said, "With regard to the meeting at the home minister's official residence, I state that there was discussion related to Legislative Assembly Questions on hookah parlours of Thane City on March 1. In this regard I had gone to the home minister's residence to brief him. I met him along with other police officers. Other than the aforesaid matter, I had neither met the home minister nor had discussed any other subject. Sachin Waze met me at the official premises and said that he had met the home minister to brief him about the investigation of certain cases. He told me that the home minister got to know about '3 lakh being collected from establishments. I am unaware whether a meeting between Waze and the home minister took place. On March 4, I wanted to discuss some official work with Bhujbal, when he was at Dnyaneshwar with respect to the Assembly session briefing. Later, he called me there. As the meeting was in progress, I waited outside. After the meeting ended, I met Bhujbal. He came out along with Palande, who asked us about the information regarding establishments, to which I said that there is no substance in the matter. Thereafter, we left the residence in our official vehicle. I had mentioned the aforesaid matter during my chat with former CP Param Bir Singh."