Param Bir Singh
{{short description|Former Commissioner of Mumbai Police}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Param Bir Singh
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| occupation = Police Officer
| organization =
| nationality = {{IND}}
| education =
| module = {{Infobox police officer
| department = Maharashtra Police
| service =
| rank = 25px Director General of Police
| serviceyears = 1988–2020
}}}}
Param Bir Singh is a former Indian police officer of the 1988 Indian Police Service (IPS) batch. He served as the Police Commissioner of Mumbai and the Director General (DG) of the Maharashtra Home Guard.{{cite web| url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/ex-mumbai-top-cop-param-bir-singh-takes-charge-as-dg-of-maharashtra-home-guard-1782181-2021-03-22| title=Ex-Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh takes charge as DG of Maharashtra Home Guard| date=22 March 2021| access-date=7 November 2021| website=indiatoday.in}}
Following the filing of extortion cases against him, he was untraceable, and was declared as absconding by a Mumbai Magistrate Court.{{cite web | url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/court-declares-param-bir-singh-a-proclaimed-offender-101637161194501.html | title=Ex-Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh is a proclaimed offender, orders court | date=17 November 2021 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/mumbai-court-declares-ips-officer-param-bir-singh-proclaimed-offender-in-extortion-case/article37541337.ece | title=Mumbai court declares IPS officer Param Bir Singh 'proclaimed offender' in extortion case | newspaper=The Hindu | date=17 November 2021 }} Singh was suspended from his present position as the DG of Home Guard because of his absence, by the Government of Maharashtra.{{Cite web |title=Maharashtra govt suspends Param Bir Singh as DG Home Guard |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/maharashtra-govt-suspends-param-bir-singh-as-dg-home-guards-1883414-2021-12-02 |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=India Today |date=2 December 2021 |language=en}}
Early life
Param Bir Singh was born in Chandigarh to Hoshyar Singh, who was a civil servant. In 1983, Param Bir completed MA in sociology from Punjab University.{{cite web| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/ncp-nixed-shiv-senas-choice-leaned-on-ally-to-pick-param-bir-singh-as-mumbai-police-commissioner/articleshow/74422043.cms| title=NCP nixed Shiv Sena's choice, leaned on ally to pick Param Bir Singh as Mumbai police commissioner {{!}} New police chief set to retire in 2022| author=Prafulla Marpakwar {{!}} Uma Kadam| date=1 March 2020| access-date=11 November 2021| website=indiatimes.com}}
Career
His previous posts include Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Director General (DG) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Police Commissioner of Thane,{{Cite web|agency=PTI|title=Param Bir Singh Appointed As New Mumbai Police Commissioner|url=https://www.ndtv.com/mumbai-news/param-bir-singh-appointed-as-new-mumbai-police-commissioner-2187663|access-date=2020-03-05|website=NDTV}}{{cite news|title=Param Bir Singh new Mumbai Police Commissioner|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/param-bir-singh-new-mumbai-police-commissioner/articleshow/74412995.cms|access-date=2020-10-11}} Superintendent of Police in Chandrapur and Bhandara, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) in Mumbai, Additional Commissioner of Police in North-West Region in Mumbai, Additional Commissioner of Police in Anti-Terrorism Squad, and Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order).{{cite web| url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/from-trp-scam-to-sushant-singh-rajput-death-param-bir-singh-handled-several-important-cases-964694.html| title=From TRP scam to Sushant Singh Rajput death, Param Bir Singh handled several important cases| date=21 March 2021| author=Mrityunjay Bose| access-date=8 November 2021| website=deccanherald.com}}
He was the Additional Commissioner of the ATS, when the ATS investigated the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, and arrested the prime accused Sadhvi Pragya and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit.{{cite web| url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/the-rise-and-fall-of-param-bir-singh-1780479-2021-03-17| title=The rise and fall of Param Bir Singh| author=Kiran Tare| date=17 March 2021| access-date=9 November 2021| website=indiatoday.in}}
As ACP, he countered the terrorists in Oberoi Trident during the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008.
As Police Commissioner of Thane, he busted the fake international call centre racket at Mira Road{{cite web| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/thane-call-centre-racket-claims-life-of-us-woman/articleshow/54751953.cms| title=Thane call centre racket claims life of US woman| date=8 October 2016| access-date=9 November 2021| website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}} in which 6,500 US nationals were cheated.{{cite web| url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/call-centre-racket-fbi-officials-arrive-in-thane-to-probe-fraud/story-dkJ0iYODNhfl5fhE8n5YgN.html| title=Call centre racket: FBI officials arrive in Thane to probe fraud| date=14 October 2016| author=Arvind Walmiki| access-date=9 November 2021| website=hindustantimes.com}} 772 employees were taken into custody from three bogus call centres.{{cite web| url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/thane-call-centre-racket-fbi-officer-meets-thane-cops/story-eQTQZmfBzhFtNvKRYh73aO.html| title=Call centre racket: FBI officer meets Thane cops| date=15 October 2016| access-date=9 November 2021| author=Arvind Walmiki| website=hindustantimes.com}}
Singh became Police Commissioner of Mumbai on 29 February 2020. He handled the cases of the TRP scam, the Anvay Naik suicide and the death of Sushant Singh Rajput.{{cite web| url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/aiims-report-another-validation-that-we-were-right-all-along-police-commissioner-param-bir-singh-6705935/| title='AIIMS report another validation that we were right all along': Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh
| author=Mohamed Thaver| date=7 October 2020| access-date=8 November 2021| website=indianexpress.com}} On 18 March 2021, the Maharashtra government removed Singh as commissioner in the aftermath of a security incident in which a parked car containing sticks of gelignite was discovered outside of the home of businessman Mukesh Ambani.{{cite news|date=18 March 2021|title=Ambani home bomb scare, Waze mess fallout: Mumbai Police Commissioner is shunted out|work=The Indian Express|agency=Express News Service|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mumbai-police-commissioner-mukesh-ambani-sachin-waze-7233247/|access-date=19 March 2021}}
On March 20, 2021 Singh in an eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray alleged that then Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had asked then Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze "to collect ₹100 Crore every month from businesses based in Mumbai". Deshmukh resigned in April 2021,{{cite web| title=Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh resigns as Bombay High Court orders CBI probe into corruption charges| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra-home-minister-anil-deshmukh-resigns/article34243684.ece| author=Alok Deshpande| website=The Hindu| date=5 April 2021}} and was arrested in November 2021 by the Enforcement Directorate.{{cite news|last1=Narayan|first1=Khushboo|date=2021|title=Anil Deshmukh arrested by ED in money laundering|work=The Indian Express|agency=Indian Express|issue=November 2, 2021|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/anil-deshmukh-appears-before-ed-7601849/|access-date=2 November 2021}}
On 28 October 2021, a court in Maharashtra's Thane issued a non-bailable warrant against Singh in connection with a case of extortion.[https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/non-bailable-warrant-issued-against-former-mumbai-police-commissioner-param-bir-singh-in-extortion-case-1870705-2021-10-28 Non- bailable warrant against Param Bir Singh]
As per the then Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, Singh went on leave from his post of DG Home Guards on May 5, 2021 citing ill health, and suggested he may have left the country.{{cite web| url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/param-bir-singh-not-traceable-cant-give-statement-maharashtra-govt-hc-7581432/| title=Maharashtra tells HC can't trace Param Bir Singh, defence says not yet 'absconder'| date=21 October 2021| access-date=7 November 2021|author=Varinder Bhatia |author2=Yogesh Naik |author3=Omkar Gokhale |author4=Jayprakash S Naidu | website=indianexpress.com}}
The state CID issued a lookout notice against Singh,{{cite web| url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/maharashtra-govt-begins-process-to-declare-param-absconder/articleshow/87265750.cms| title=Maharashtra govt begins process to declare Param Bir Singh 'absconder'| date=26 October 2021| author=Priyanka Kakodkar| access-date=7 November 2021| website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}} and
on November 17, the Mumbai Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court declared Singh a proclaimed offender, a first for a Mumbai police commissioner.
He was refused relief from arrest by the Supreme Court citing reasons that a relief from arrest cannot be granted unless and until the guilty party reveals their current location.{{Cite web|title='कहां छुपे हैं बताए बिना कोई सुनवाई नहीं', परमवीर सिंह की याचिका पर सुप्रीम कोर्ट का सख्त रुख|url=https://www.aajtak.in/crime/police-and-intelligence/story/supreme-court-asked-former-bombay-police-chief-parambir-singh-are-you-in-the-country-or-outside-ntc-1358972-2021-11-18|access-date=2021-11-18|website=Aaj Tak|date=18 November 2021 |language=hi}}{{Cite magazine|author=Kamlesh Damodar Sutar |date=November 29, 2021 |title=Param Bir Singh faces suspension for violation of service rules, action likely in a week: Sources|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/param-bir-singh-faces-suspension-violation-of-service-rules-1882103-2021-11-29|access-date=2021-11-29|magazine=India Today|language=en}}
Singh was suspended, and the state government initiated disciplinary action against him over lapses and irregularities including unauthorized absence, as Singh failed to return to duty after his leave on health grounds lapsed on July 29.{{cite web| url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/former-mumbai-top-cop-param-bir-singh-suspended-7652707/| title=Former Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh suspended| date=3 December 2021| author=Yogesh Naik| access-date=5 December 2021| website=indianexpress.com}}
Personal life
Singh is married to Savita Singh who is a law graduate and a director and partner in multiple companies.{{cite web| url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/savita-singh-quits-lic-housing-finance/article33058264.ece| title=Savita Singh quits LIC Housing Finance| date=9 November 2020| access-date=9 November 2021| website=thehindubusinessline.com}}
Their son, Rohan Singh and daughter, Raina Singh, are lawyers.{{cite web| url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/the-informer/what-a-player/articleshow/61970227.cms| title=A quiet engagement| date=8 December 2017| access-date=9 November 2021| website=bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com}}{{cite web|url=https://indialegallive.com/top-news-of-the-day/news/from-mumbai-police-chief-to-proclaimed-offender-param-bir-singh-and-his-many-shady-questionable-deals/|title=From Mumbai Police Chief to proclaimed offender Param Bir Singh and his many shady questionable deals|date=18 Nov 2021|access-date=22 Nov 2024|website=indialegallive.com}}