Maharashtra Home Minister, Facing CBI Probe Over Top Cop's Charge, Quits

Param Bir Singh has alleged in a petition that he was targeted because he had complained to Uddhav Thackeray about Anil Deshmukh, listing several allegations including extortion and illegal transfers.

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigned today, "on moral grounds", hours after the Bombay High Court ordered the CBI to carry out a preliminary probe within 15 days into former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh's allegations against him. Mr Deshmukh had rejected calls for his resignation for weeks, saying he had done nothing wrong. "Since CBI is now going to investigate him, it is not correct for him to now stay on the position," said a leader of Mr Deshmukh's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Param Bir Singh, who was recently replaced as Mumbai Police chief, has alleged in a petition that he was targeted because he had complained to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about Anil Deshmukh, listing several allegations including extortion and illegal transfers.