Former Maharashtra Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla had recommended the registration of an FIR against ex-top cop Sanjay Pandey and two other police officers for allegedly conspiring to falsely implicate Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in a case dating back to 2016, official sources claimed on Saturday.
The recommendation was made in a report submitted by Shukla to the state home department shortly before her retirement on January 3. The report was based on findings of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), sources said. The issue has once again triggered a sharp political fight between the ruling BJP and the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT).
What the SIT Report Allegedly Says
According to sources, the report states that Sanjay Pandey, who served as DGP during the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, along with Deputy Commissioner of Police Laxmikant Patil and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sardar Patil, was involved in a conspiracy to frame political leaders.
The alleged conspiracy relates to a 2016 extortion case registered at Thane Nagar Police Station. At that time, Devendra Fadnavis was the Leader of Opposition, while Eknath Shinde was a state minister. The case involved a dispute between businessman Shyamsunder Agarwal and his former partner, real estate developer Sanjay Punamiya. A charge sheet was filed in 2017.
Sources claim that during Pandey’s tenure as DGP, the case was reinvestigated, allegedly with the intention of implicating Fadnavis and Shinde. Shukla reportedly recommended that an FIR be registered against the three police officers for misuse of power.
Political Row Erupts Over Report
Reacting strongly, BJP leaders demanded a full investigation, questioning under whose pressure Sanjay Pandey was allegedly acting. BJP minister Ashish Shelar accused the then MVA government of misusing the police to target political opponents and even demanded brain mapping and narco tests of Pandey.
Mumbai BJP chief Ameet Satam alleged that false documents were prepared to frame Fadnavis and Shinde, claiming that between 2019 and 2022, Maharashtra saw “anarchy” under the Thackeray government.
On the other hand, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut dismissed the report, alleging that Rashmi Shukla was an RSS worker in uniform and said her findings could not be trusted.
The controversy adds a new political dimension to the 2024 extortion case, in which Pandey and others were already booked following a complaint by Sanjay Punamiya, who alleged harassment and extortion during the reinvestigation.
