Ex-Police Chief Challenges Ex-Minister to Narco Test Over Bomb Scare

In a dramatic turn of events, former Mumbai Police Commissioner Pram Bir Singh has publicly challenged former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and his son Salil to undergo a joint narco test regarding the Antilia bomb scare incident. Singh has reiterated his serious allegations against Deshmukh, claiming that he orchestrated a scheme to extort Rs 100 crores monthly from bars and other establishments in Mumbai, exerting undue pressure on the police force to comply. Singh further accused Deshmukh of interfering in police officer postings, alleging that Salil Deshmukh and an associate, Kundan Shinde, frequently approached police officials at The Lalit hotel to secure favorable postings. He stated that he had initiated the transfer of ten deputy police commissioners based on merit, but these transfers were halted by the then additional chief secretary under Deshmukh's directives, with many officers being retained at Deshmukh's behest. The former commissioner also claimed that Deshmukh sought to manipulate him into summoning various actors and filmmakers in connection with the investigation into the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, aiming to exert political influence. Singh asserted that he had attempted to raise his concerns with prominent political figures, including then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, but felt his complaints were dismissed without due consideration. In a broader context, Singh alleged that criminal elements, including Riyaz Bhatti, were colluding with influential figures in power. Deshmukh, in response, accused Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of using Singh and imprisoned officer Sachin Vaze to settle political scores, further complicating the ongoing political and legal drama in Maharashtra.