Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tears into Maharashtra govt over Sachin Vaze case, demands probe

Union Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad on Sunday demanded 'fair and impartial probe by an outside agency' into the allegations levelled by the Mumbai ex-commissioner Param Bir Singh against against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

Prasad expressed astonishment over Waze, "a mere assistant inspector", having been defended inside and outside the assembly by none other than Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. He also questioned the "silence" of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in the matter though his party colleague and home minister Anil Deshmukh has been accused of asking the policeman to "extort Rs 100 crore from dance bars etc. every month", PTI reported.

In a twist to the Antilia case, former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh has accused Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of extortion. In his letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh claimed that Deshmukh had directed suspended API Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month from bars restaurants, other establishments.