Ex-DGP accused of plotting to frame Fadnavis Shinde in 2016 ULC case

Rashmi Shukla Submits Allegations Before Retirement

MUMBAI: Just days before her retirement as Maharashtra’s director general of police (DGP) on January 3, Rashmi Shukla submitted a report to the state government. The report alleges that senior IPS officer and former DGP Sanjay Panday plotted to frame senior political leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde in the high-profile 2016 urban land ceiling (ULC) scam.

Details of the Allegations

The report states that Panday, who has also served as Mumbai’s police commissioner, pressured two Thane police officers and two arrested accused to implicate Fadnavis and Shinde. He allegedly claimed that they extorted money from builders. Panday also pressured the officers to arrest the two senior politicians in 2021.

Fadnavis, now chief minister heading the BJP-led Mahayuti government, was then the leader of the opposition. Shinde, now deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief, was the urban development minister when the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government was in power.

Responses and Context

Shukla did not respond to attempts by HT to reach her. Panday stated, “She can submit any report she pleases. I don’t want to comment.” The case involves a multi-crore scam where builders in Thane fraudulently benefited under the Urban Land Ceiling Act (ULC).

Key Findings in the Report

Shukla’s report surfaced ahead of crucial municipal elections in Mumbai, Thane, and elsewhere in the state. It alleges that Panday instructed Thane deputy commissioner of police Laxmikant Patil and assistant commissioner of police Sardar Patil to arrest Fadnavis and Shinde in the ULC case.

The report also mentions an audio clip submitted by businessman Sanjay Punamia, who was arrested in the matter. The recording allegedly captures a conversation between Panday, Sardar Patil, and Laxmikant Patil discussing plans to implicate Fadnavis and Shinde.

Further Allegations Against Police Officers

In the report, Shukla claims that when Sanjay Punamia and Sunil Jain were arrested at the Kopri police station in Thane, they were questioned by Laxmikant Patil. Patil allegedly asked Punamia how much money Fadnavis had extorted from builders.

Patil also allegedly instructed Punamia to make statements on camera implicating Fadnavis and others. They were allegedly threatened with imprisonment if they refused, according to the report.

Legal Actions and Statements

Later, in August 2024, Punamia registered an FIR alleging that Panday initiated an illegal investigation against him. He claimed that Panday extorted money from him and other businessmen by threatening to book them in false cases.

Punamia stated that when he was hospitalized in 2021, retired assistant commissioner of police Sardar Patil and two officers visited him to record his statement. They allegedly said that Panday would clear his name if he implicated Eknath Shinde, Devendra Fadnavis, and former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh in the ULC fraud. He refused.

In September 2024, the Thane sessions court granted Panday interim protection from arrest.

Political Reactions

Reacting to the report, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “During MVA rule, efforts were made to trap me in cases. The then CP (Panday) and other officers were given directives. Some false statements were taken. Now everything has been exposed.”

City BJP chief Ameet Satam alleged that Panday wanted to frame Fadnavis in a false case during MVA rule. He stated, “Panday pressured a DCP and an ACP to file an FIR against Fadnavis and made them prepare false papers. Shukla has written a report and suggested an FIR against Panday for his acts between 2019 and 2022.”

Satam emphasized the need to find out who was behind Panday’s actions. He suggested a brain mapping test and a narco test on Panday. He claimed that Uddhav Thackeray had a secret hand behind Panday.

In defense of Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Sanjay Raut claimed that Rashmi Shukla is a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and acted on behalf of the ruling BJP. “Her entire family works for the BJP. One cannot trust her report,” Raut said.

Summary of Key Facts