New Delhi, Jan. 13: Former home secretary R.K Singh today accused ex-boss and minister Sushil Kumar Shinde of shielding a businessman with suspected links to Dawood Ibrahim in the IPL fixing probe, making the claims a month after joining the BJP.

“Shinde prevented Delhi police from interrogating a businessman in the IPL case. (Security) agencies suspected the businessman had links with Dawood,” the former IAS officer from Bihar told a channel. S. Sreesanth, Ankeet Chavan and Ajit Chandila are suspects in the case.

Singh also accused Shinde of interfering in Delhi police’s transfers and postings.

During his tenure as home secretary till last June, sources said Singh had uneasy ties with Shinde and towards the end of his stint, the minister expressed differences with the officer openly in meetings.

Today, Singh dubbed a “lie” assurances by Shinde that the Centre would catch and bring Dawood to India with US help.

Ministry officials declined comment on Singh’s allegations. Shinde was away in his constituency Sholapur.

In 1990, as Samastipur collector under the Lalu Prasad government, Singh had stopped L.K Advani’s rathyatra and arrested the BJP veteran.