The Maharashtra government has dropped the charges against former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh and also revoked his suspension.

Singh was suspended by the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in 2021.

In 2021, a rift emerged between Singh and the then State's Home Minister Anil Deshmukh after the Antilia bomb scare case, in which explosives were kept outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's residence.

After Singh was shunted out, he wrote a letter alleging corruption on the part of Deshmukh, which resulted in latter's removal from office, and his subsequent resignation.

Later, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government filed five FIRs on charges of extortion and similar offences after which he was placed under suspension in December 2021.

While Singh retired on 30 June last year, the period from the day he was suspended, 12 December 2021, to the day he resigned, will now be treated as him being on duty.

The order will impact the pension that retired IPS officers get from the government, The Indian Express reported citing an official.

The Maharashtra Home Department released an order on May 10 announcing the withdrawal of charges against Param Bir Singh under Rule 8 of All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969 and said that the matter is being closed.

The same-day order revoking Param Bir Singh's suspension stated, "As per the provisions of the All India Services (Death-Cum-Retirement Benefits) Rules. 1958, the suspension of Shri. Param Bir Singh. IPS (Retd) is revoked by this order and the period of suspension from 02/12/2021 to 30/06/2022 shall be treated as a period spent on duty for all purposes.”

Singh was earlier questioned by NIA in connection with Antilia case during investigation and his statement was recorded by the central agency.

The NIA's chargesheet included a statement from a cyber expert alleging that Singh paid him to prepare a report that a message uploaded on a telegram channel post the Antilia case claiming responsibility had been uploaded from Tihar jail in Delhi.

Mumbai Police Commissioner

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