Three businessmen, Sonu Jalan, Ketan Manshukhlal Tanna and Moonirahmed Pathan, have written to Maharashtra director general of police, alleging that former Mumbai Police commissioner Param Bir Singh, had extorted crores of rupees from them.

A copy of the letter, which was accessed by India Today TV, mentioned the alleged extortion that took place when Param Bir Singh was the police commissioner of Thane.

Reacting to these allegations, former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said: "Every day, fresh allegations of corruption are coming to light against Param Bir Singh. Police officers Anup Dange and Bhimrao Ghadge have also levelled allegations of corruption against him. Sonu Jalan, Ketan Tanna and other businessmen have also come forward and complained of extortion against him."

He added: "All of you know the explosives were kept in front of Mukesh Ambani's residence when when Param Bir Singh was the police commissioner. His role, along with Sachin Vaze, has been found suspicious in both explosives and murder cases of Mansukh Hiren. He was transferred because his mistakes could not be forgotten."

The ex-home minister of Maharashtra said that in anger from the sudden transfer, Param Bir Singh brought serious allegations against him. "He should have done it when he was Mumbai Police Commissioner and not after transfer," added Deshmukh.

After Parambir Singh was removed from the Mumbai CP's post after a bomb was found outside Mukesh Ambani's Mumbai residence, he had alleged that Anil Deshmukh had asked Sachin Vaze -- an accused police officer in the case -- to extort Rs 100 crore per month. Later, CBI filed an FIR against Deshmukh.

In the letter, Sonu Jalan, who was arrested in a gambling case by Thane Police, said: "After my arrest, I was taken to the cabin of Param Bir Singh by Pradeep Sharma. Pradeep Sharma and Rajkumar Kothmire demanded Rs 10 crore from me."

The letter by Jalan stated that the officers had threatened to include him and his family in many other cases. "After negotiation, the amount was settled at Rs 3 crore, which was handed over by my sister."

Similarly, Tanna and Pathan, too, alleged in the letter that they were framed in fake cases and crores were extorted from them.

The letter has been sent to the department concerned for necessary action, sources told a news channel.

(With inputs from agencies)