"Won't Touch With a Barge-Pole": Top Cop Julio Ribeiro On Maharashtra Row

The allegations against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh -- that he had roped in senior officers for an extortion racket and influenced investigations -- were made in a letter by Param Bir Singh, who was moved from the top post of the Mumbai police to the Home Guards last week.

Julio Ribeiro, the former top cop of Mumbai, Gujarat and Punjab, whose name was suggested by Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar today to investigate the corruption allegations against Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh,  has said he would not take up the job even if it is offered. "I would not like to touch this kind of murky situation, Mr Ribeiro told NDTV in an exclusive interview. "I would not touch this with a barge-pole... this is a very tricky situation and I do not know where all this is going to lead to. It is better for the politicians to settle it themselves," he added. The allegations against Mr Deshmukh -- that he had roped in senior officers for an extortion racket and influenced investigations -- were made in a letter by Param Bir Singh, who was moved from the top post of the Mumbai police to the Home Guards last week. Mr Singh was transferred after police officer Sachin Waze was arrested in a case involving a car-full of explosives found near the home of Reliance chairman Mukesh Ambani earlier this month. There were allegations that Sachin Waze was linked to the death of a man believed to be the owner of the SUV.