SC raps Param Bir for having no faith in cops

The Supreme Court on Friday described as “shocking” the former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh saying that he had no confidence in the Maharashtra police with which he has been associated for over three decades as IPS officer, as it declined to entertain his plea for the transfer of all the criminal cases registered against him in Maharashtra to CBI or an independent agency.

Apparently intrigued over Param Bir Singh showing lack of faith in Maharashtra police in which he grew up to become the top cop of Mumbai police, the court observed that those living in glass houses should not throw stones on others.

Describing as “shocking” Param Bir Singh’s plea that he was seeking the transfer of all the criminal cases to CBI or an independent agency because of his lack of trust in the Maharashtra police, a bench comprising Justice Hemant Gupta and Justice V. Ramasubramanian said, “It is very surprising. You were part of Maharashtra IPS cadre for 30 years and served it. Now you are saying you do not have faith in that system. It is a shocking … shocking allegation.”

Reminding Param Bir Singh that he was alleging lack of trust in a police force of which he was part for 30 years, the court observed, “It is said persons living in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones at other.”

“Your Lordships are assuming I am living in glass houses,” senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani appearing for Param Bir Singh said responding to the observation from the bench.

At the outset of the hearing, the court told Singh that it can’t pass a blanket order in respect of all the FIRs registered against him and asked him to approach Bombay High Court or any other appropriate forum.