Process to declare former Mumbai top cop Param Bir an absconder gets court nod

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Former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who has failed to show up for police investigations in connection with an extortion case, can now be declared an offender as a magistrate’s court in the city has accepted the Mumbai Crime Branch’s application in this regard on Wednesday.</p>
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After the court order, the Mumbai Police can now designate him a wanted accused and start the process of declaring him an absconder. </p>
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"If Param Bir Singh doesn't come before the law within 30 days, Mumbai Police will initiate the process for attachment of his properties," special public prosecutor Shekhar Jagtap said.</p>
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The Mumbai crime Branch had earlier issued summons to Singh at all his addresses available in government records which include his homes in Chandigarh, Rohtak and Mumbai but he has failed to show up for questioning.</p>
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He was booked in an extortion case registered by hotelier Bimal Agarwal.  Dismissed police inspector Sachin Waze extorted money from the Mumbai  hotelier on behalf of Singh and audio recordings were submitted by the complainant to the police.</p>
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Two police officers have been remanded in the Maharashtra Criminal Investigation Department (CID) custody for seven days in connection with the extortion case registered against them and the former city police commissioner.</p>
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Param Bir Singh faces at least four cases of extortion and is believed to have fled the country.</p>
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Singh was transferred from the post of Mumbai police chief in March after the arrest of assistant police inspector Sachin Waze in the case of an explosives-filled SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house and the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran.</p>
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Although Param Bir Singh hasn't been named as an accused in the case, several incriminating lapses have been revealed by witnesses in the case against Waze.</p>