Former Mumbai Police chief, senior officials seek to cancel extortion cases

Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey and other officers moved the Bombay High Court seeking to quash FIRs filed against him by a builder.

In Short

• Court begins hearing petitions by Mumbai Police Commissioner Pandey, others
• Pandey accused of conspiracy, intimidation, extortion by a businessman
• Pandey rejects allegations, seeks to cancel FIRs filed in Mumbai, Thane

The Bombay High Court has begun hearing a series of petitions filed by Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey and several investigators seeking the cancelling of two cases registered against them at police stations in Mumbai and Thane.

The case against Pandey was filed on a complaint by businessman Sanjay Punamiya, who accused him of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, extortion, forgery, and producing false evidence.

The cases stem from a conflict between two builders, Shyamsunder Agarwal and Sanjay Punamiya. Allegations and counter-allegations have been exchanged between the two, leading to legal battles. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government's tenure, Punamiya was arrested, and Pandey headed the Mumbai Police.

Following the change in government to the BJP-backed Eknath Shinde administration, Punamiya filed two FIRs against Agarwal and others. One of the FIRs, registered in Thane, names Pandey and other police officials. The Colaba FIR includes Special Public Prosecutor (SSP) Shekhar Jagtap and a ministry official, who have also approached the court for relief.

Jagtap's lawyers Ravi Kadam and Sairuchita Chowdhary argued that, as an SPP, he was acting within the scope of his appointment and that no criminality was involved. They emphasised that he had disclosed his previous representation of Agarwal to the government before accepting the SPP role.

The bench of justices Bharti Dangre and Manjusha Deshpande questioned the invocation of cheating charges against Jagtap and whether any loss was incurred by the state government. The Additional Public Prosecutor Mankuwar Deshmukh maintained that there was indeed a loss, while Jagtap's lawyers countered that he had received no remuneration for his services as SPP.

Punamiya's legal representative opposed the quashing petitions, citing video evidence that allegedly suggests police officers were instructed during the MVA's tenure to target BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde.

The High Court is expected to continue hearing the case this week, with arguments from Pandey's lawyer, the ministry official's lawyer, and the lawyers representing the police personnel.