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SC grants protection from arrest to Param Bir Singh

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The Supreme Court on Monday granted protection from arrest to former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh in cases against him in Maharashtra, and directed him to join the investigation.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said: “Wonder what will happen to a common man. Matter has become curiouser and curiouser…first the home minister and then the police commissioner…”

Senior advocate Puneet Bali, representing Singh, told the top court that his client is very much in the country and added that the moment his client touches Maharashtra, there is threat to his life.

The bench told the lawyer that “if you say your client faces threat to life from the Mumbai Police, then what is the hope for other people.” Bali submitted that FIRs against his client were lodged by bookies, extortionists, etc., against whom he had taken action.

Bali urged the top court to allow Singh to appear before any officer of the court of the CBI. He emphasized that his client is in India, but apprehends action would be taken by the Maharashtra government against him, and the prayer before the Bombay High Court was to direct the matter to CBI.

After hearing detailed arguments, the top court said the only question to be examined is that the CBI is already looking into the matter and could the other aspects be entrusted to the CBI.

The bench added that the stand of the CBI and state government is not known, as the petition was decided preliminarily. “Notice issued to respondents, returnable on December 6…the petitioner shall join the investigation, but shall not be arrested,” said the top court.

On November 18, the Supreme Court asked Singh’s counsel to disclose which part of the world or the country he is in, and without these details, the court would not entertain his plea seeking protection.

The top court had told Bali, representing Singh, “where are you… within the country or outside. First, I want to know where are you.” Bali replied that his client’s whereabouts would be known to the counsel-on-record.

Justice Kaul sought a response from the counsel-on record, who replied that he is not aware about Singh’s current location. Bali submitted, “If I am allowed to breathe. I may come out of the hole…” Dissatisfied with the answer, the bench had said that such actions lead to lack of confidence in the system, “you have not joined the investigation, no one knows where are you.” The top court had directed Singh’s counsel to disclose his location on Monday.

Crime

Vasai-Virar Illegal Construction Scam: ED Gets Custody Of Suspended Ex-VVCMC Deputy Director YS Reddy In Money Laundering Case

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Mumbai: The special PMLA court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take the custody of YS Reddy, suspended deputy director of town planning of the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC), in the money laundering case linked to illegal constructions.

Apart from him, ex-VVCMC chief, IAS officer Anil Pawar, and builder duo, Sitaram Gupta and Arun Gupta, have been arrested. They were remanded to judicial custody for 14 days on August 20, however, the ED had reserved its right to obtain their custody for further interrogation.

Reddy was remanded to ED custody till Monday after the agency submitted that he needs to be questioned regarding the huge amount of cash and jewellery found at his residence.

The ED sought Reddy’s after a civic employee allegedly gave a statement that he along with Pawar forced him to collect and deliver bribes to them. The employee revealed that while big architects and builders had access to meet Pawar at his official residence, smaller architects would send their representatives with him to deliver cash to Pawar’s cook or other staff, said the officials.

The employee has also provided a list of 457 commencement certificates (CC) issued for projects in ‘Urban Zone’ and 129 CCs for D-Zone in lieu of bribes, they added.

The agency said that it has also recorded the statement of an architect on September 1, who claimed that Pawar and Reddy sought bribes for granting CCs. The architect said that he has negotiated and facilitated payment of bribes to the duo, as per the statement.

Besides, ED prosecutor Kavita Patil referred to the August 29 statement of a builder, who claimed that he had paid Rs4.28 crore in bribes, which were collected at a rate of Rs30 per sq ft, to the accused. The builder also claimed that he had paid around Rs15 crore to Reddy and Pawar for various approvals granted by them, said Patil.

However, Reddy’s lawyer argued that he has already given explanation to the adjudicating authority regarding the valuables seized from his residence and that seeking custody was the ED’s tactic not to submit its reply, as directed, in this regard by September 10.

Accepting the ED’s contention, the court said, “Considering the statements of witnesses and the list of CCs, the investigation cannot be completed in a proper manner without Reddy’s custody.”

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Crime

Man Who Threatened To Blow Up Mumbai With 34 Human Bombs & 400Kg RDX Ahead Of Ganpati Visarjan 2025, Arrested In Noida

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Mumbai: In a swift and coordinated operation, the Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested a 50-year-old man from Noida, Uttar Pradesh, within 24 hours after he allegedly threatened to blow up the city using human bombs and 400 kg of RDX explosives.

According to officials, on September 4, 2025, at 2:57 pm, an unidentified person sent a WhatsApp message to the government-issued mobile number of the Mumbai Traffic Control Room in Worli. The message claimed that a massive terror attack would be carried out in Mumbai using human bombs and explosives.

The threat, which came amid the backdrop of Ganesh Visarjan celebrations in the city, was taken very seriously given the potential to disrupt law and order. Acting swiftly, the Crime Branch used technical investigation and intelligence-based tracking to trace the accused. With assistance from Gautam Buddh Nagar Police in Noida, the suspect — Ashwinikumar Sureshkumar Supra (50) — was arrested. The mobile phone used to send the threatening message has also been seized.

The case has been registered under Sections 196(1)(A)(B), 351(2), 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Worli Police Station.

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Crime

Mumbai: 5 Booked For Assaulting & Abusing Police During Drunk-Driving Check In Kandivali

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Mumbai: The Samta Nagar police registered a case against five individuals for allegedly physically assaulting and verbally abusing police personnel, as well as obstructing government work.

On September 2 in Kandivali East, a police team on duty was allegedly abused and pushed by relatives of a drunk-driving accused while action was being taken against him. The incident also involved attempts to obstruct government work.

A case has been registered against five people, including three women. The Samta Nagar police arrested two accused, identified as Ajay Ramesh Bamane and Ganesh Bamane, who were later released on notice. The three women—Vidya Sonawane, Vijaya Bhat, and Varsha Bamane—have been named as co-accused and declared wanted in the case.

According to the police, the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 2, at around 12:45 p.m. near the Akurli Road Subway, Big Bazaar, Kandivali. Local police had increased patrolling and blockades during Ganeshotsav to prevent any untoward incidents. That afternoon, a team from Samta Nagar Police Station, along with traffic police, was on blockade duty in the Big Bazaar area when Police Constable Surwale noticed that Ajay Bamane was driving under the influence of alcohol.

He was stopped, and action was initiated against him. At this point, his relatives—Vidya Sonawane, Vijaya Bhat, Varsha Bamane, and Ganesh Bamane—intervened and began arguing with the police. They allegedly gathered unlawfully, abused the police, and attempted to assault them to stop the action against Ajay. They reportedly tried to attack Police Constable Siddharth Kini, Sub-Inspector Garad, and Woman Constable Tandale, even scratching PSI Garad with their nails while obstructing her from performing her duty. The situation created a tense atmosphere in the area.

On receiving information, additional police personnel from Samta Nagar Police Station rushed to the spot. Ajay Bamane and Ganesh Bamane, who were found arguing with and assaulting police officers, were detained for questioning. A case was registered against all five accused under sections related to obstructing government work, abuse, pushing, and assaulting police officers.

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