Who Is Sanjay Pandey? All About Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Who Has Been Accused of Framing Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde in the ULC Scam

Mumbai, January 11: In a development that has sent ripples through Maharashtra's political and legal landscape, a special investigation report has accused former Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey of orchestrating a conspiracy to falsely implicate high-ranking leaders in a long-standing land scam. The report, submitted on January 3 by outgoing Director General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla, alleges that Pandey pressured officials to name Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis in the Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) case.

The Allegations: A Political Conspiracy

The core of the accusation involves the alleged "misuse" of a reinvestigation into the ULC scam during Pandey’s tenure as the state's acting DGP and later as Mumbai Police Commissioner under the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. According to the report, Pandey directed junior officers to reopen the 2016 case with the specific intent of obtaining false statements against Shinde and Fadnavis. ‘Will Have Tea Together After BMC Election 2026 Results’: CM Devendra Fadnavis on Equations With MNS Chief Raj Thackeray.

The report suggests that Pandey and two other officers, Laxmikant Patil and Sardar Patil, exerted pressure on the accused persons and witnesses to claim that Fadnavis had extorted money from builders. Investigating officers allegedly bypassed standard procedures and fabricated evidence to support a "re-investigation" that had no new legal basis.

The 2016 ULC Scam

The Urban Land Ceiling (ULC) scam originally surfaced in 2016 during a probe by the Thane police. The case involved builders who allegedly used forged certificates to avoid surrendering "excess" land to the government, as required by the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act.

The Fraud: Developers reportedly saved hundreds of crores by obtaining bogus exemptions.

Original Probe: The initial investigation led to several arrests, but neither Shinde nor Fadnavis was named in the original charge sheet filed in 2017.

The Shift: The current report claims that Pandey utilised a fresh application from a private individual in 2021 to steer the probe toward political targets.

Who is Sanjay Pandey?

Sanjay Pandey is a 1986-batch IPS officer who has frequently been at the centre of administrative and legal controversies. An IIT Kanpur alumnus, he gained prominence for his handling of the 1992-93 Mumbai riots but later faced multiple legal battles over his service tenure and private business interests. Ex-Mumbai CP Sanjay Pandey Arrested by ED in NSE Co-Location Scam Case.

Pandey's Career Post-Retirement Has Been Particularly Turbulent:

NSE Case: In 2022, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for illegal phone tapping of National Stock Exchange (NSE) employees through his firm, iSec Services. He spent five months in judicial custody before being granted bail.

Political Entry: After retiring in June 2022, Pandey formally joined the Congress party in September 2024, citing a desire to uphold secular values.

Current Status and Government Response

As of January 11, 2026, the Maharashtra Home Department is reviewing DGP Rashmi Shukla’s recommendations, which include registering an FIR against Pandey for criminal conspiracy and fabricating false evidence. Pandey has currently declined to comment on the specific findings of the report. Meanwhile, political reactions have been sharp, with BJP leaders alleging that the "invisible hand" of the previous state leadership was behind the plot, while opposition members have questioned the timing and neutrality of the report submitted just days before Shukla’s retirement.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 11, 2026 03:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).