A bombshell report from a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered a serious conspiracy to falsely implicate Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in a criminal case. The findings point to a calculated plot hatched by senior police officials.
The SIT Findings and Key Accusations
According to the report, the case is linked to an incident from 2016 that was registered at the Thane Nagar Police Station. The SIT has recommended initiating criminal proceedings against former Director General of Police Sanjay Pandey, former Deputy Commissioner Laxmikant Patil, and Assistant Commissioner Sardar Patil. These officials are accused of conspiring to frame the two top state leaders in a fabricated case.
The detailed report was submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) by former DGP Rashmi Shukla merely five days before her retirement. It outlines a timeline where attempts to implicate Devendra Fadnavis allegedly intensified during the rule of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. The report further states that these efforts gained significant momentum after Sanjay Pandey was appointed as the Mumbai Police Commissioner and later rose to the position of Director General of Police.
Political Backdrop and Upcoming Civic Polls
This revelation comes at a crucial political juncture in Maharashtra. Polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state, including major cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, is scheduled for January 15. The counting of votes will take place on January 16.
In the midst of this high-stakes electoral battle, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been actively campaigning. A day before the SIT report made headlines, Shinde campaigned in Pune for the Pune Municipal Corporation elections. He asserted that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is contesting the civic polls on the plank of development and expressed confidence in its victory in both Mumbai and Pune.
Shinde's Focus on Development Agenda
Speaking to the media in Katraj, Shinde emphasized the alliance's developmental work. While stating he was unaware of statements by individual party workers, he stressed that Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are contesting with full strength. "We are fighting this election on the issue of development," Shinde said. He highlighted that the work done during his two-and-a-half-year tenure as Chief Minister, combined with the efforts under Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis over the past year, is being presented directly to the people.
The SIT report adds a dramatic layer to the already heated political atmosphere in Maharashtra. It raises serious questions about the alleged misuse of police machinery and sets the stage for potential legal and political repercussions for the accused former officials. The state now watches closely as the home department reviews the findings and decides on the next course of action.
