Mumbai : Former Maharashtra DGP Sanjay Pande sought to frame Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the ULC scam during 2021. A special investigation report submitted by outgoing DGP Rashmi Shukla to the state Home Department has alleged.
The report also mentioned an audio clip submitted by Sanjay Punamia, who was arrested in the case. The recording purportedly captured a conversation among Sardar Patil, Pande, and Laxmikant Patil discussing plans to implicate Fadnavis. The report further stated that when Sanjay Punamia and Sunil Jain were arrested at the Kopari Police Station, Laxmikant Patil, then DCP Crime in Thane, interrogated them regarding the ULC scam, although he was not directly attached to the investigation.
The report also detailed that Patil instructed Punamia to make statements on camera, implicating Fadnavis and others, and pressured Sunil Jain to record his statement as directed, threatening jail if he refused. The report concluded that Laxmikant Patil pressurised Punamia and Jain to implicate Fadnavis and Shinde in Thane.
The outgoing DGP’s report also states that when Punamia and Sunil Jain were arrested at the Kopari Police Station, Laxmikant Patil, who was then DCP Crime in Thane, interrogated them about the ULC scam. Although not directly involved in the investigation, Patil allegedly asked Punamia to disclose how much money Fadnavis extorted from builders. He also threatened both men, stating he would bring in Fadnavis and Shinde to sit beside Punamia.
The report further states that Patil directed Punamia to give on-camera statements, implicating Fadnavis and others. He also allegedly coerced Jain to record his statement as instructed, threatening jail if he refused. The report concludes that Laxmikant Patil pressured Punamia and Jain to implicate Fadnavis and Shinde in Thane. Pandey was also arrested by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2022 in connection with the NSE phone tapping case, before being granted bail in five days.
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