Bombay High Court Dismisses FIRs Against Former DGP in Alleged Political Conspiracy Case

The Bombay High Court has recently quashed two First Information Reports (FIRs) against Sanjay Pandey, the former Director General of Police (DGP) of Maharashtra, and lawyer Shekhar Jagtap. These FIRs were linked to allegations of a conspiracy aimed at filing false cases against senior political figures, including Devendra Fadnavis of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Eknath Shinde of the Shiv Sena, during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The ruling was delivered by a division bench comprising Justices Shree Chandrashekhar and Suman Shyam, although the detailed judgment is expected to be released later. This court intervention sheds light on a case that has stirred considerable political controversy in Maharashtra, especially in light of the ongoing tensions between rival parties in the state.

At the heart of the matter is a businessman, Sanjay Punamiya, who had previously accused Pandey of reviving a criminal case against him, which had been dismissed in 2016. Punamiya claimed that Jagtap had falsified documents and impersonated a special public prosecutor without proper authorization. Furthermore, the criminal case had also implicated Parambir Singh, the former Commissioner of Mumbai Police, alongside allegations of extortion.

In August 2024, an FIR was filed against Pandey, along with Assistant Commissioner of Police Sardar Patil and Inspector Manohar Patil. The complaint alleged that they coerced Punamiya to make false accusations against Fadnavis and Shinde, with the intention of initiating legal proceedings against these political leaders. The involvement of top police officials in such allegations underscores the complex interplay of law enforcement and politics in Maharashtra.

The legal proceedings have seen several judges recuse themselves from hearing Pandey’s petition to dismiss the charges. This indicates not only the sensitivity surrounding the allegations but also the potential ramifications for the political landscape in the state. As the political climate in Maharashtra continues to evolve, the implications of this ruling could resonate well beyond the courtroom, impacting public trust in law enforcement and the judiciary.

Source: scroll.in