A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has uncovered what it describes as a serious conspiracy to falsely implicate Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in connection with a 2016 case registered at Thane Nagar Police Station. The findings, contained in a detailed SIT report, point to alleged attempts by senior police officials to frame the two leaders through fabricated or manipulated proceedings.

According to the report, the conspiracy was not incidental but systematic, involving senior officers of the Maharashtra Police. The SIT has recommended the initiation of criminal proceedings against former Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Pandey, former Deputy Commissioner of Police Laxmikant Patil, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Sardar Patil. These officers are accused of orchestrating and facilitating efforts to falsely implicate Fadnavis and Shinde in the decade-old case.

The report was submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) by former Maharashtra DGP Rashmi Shukla just five days before her retirement, lending urgency and significance to its findings. Senior officials familiar with the matter said the timing of the submission underscores the seriousness with which the SIT viewed the alleged misconduct.

Attempts Intensified During MVA Regime

One of the most striking observations in the SIT report is that attempts to frame Devendra Fadnavis allegedly intensified during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which was in power in Maharashtra between 2019 and 2022. The report suggests that political changes at the top created an environment in which the alleged conspiracy gathered momentum.

The SIT further notes that these efforts escalated after Sanjay Pandey assumed charge as Mumbai Police Commissioner and later as the state’s Director General of Police. During this period, the report claims, investigative processes related to the 2016 case were allegedly manipulated with the intent of building a false narrative against the BJP leaders.

Sources said the SIT examined documentary evidence, internal police communications and procedural irregularities to arrive at its conclusions. The report reportedly highlights deviations from established investigative norms, selective use of evidence and undue pressure on subordinate officers as part of the alleged plot.

Political Sensitivity and Wider Implications

The revelations have emerged at a politically sensitive time in Maharashtra, just days before polling for 29 municipal corporation elections across the state. Civic body elections in major urban centres such as Mumbai, Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad are scheduled for January 15, with counting of votes to take place on January 16.

While the SIT report pertains to a case dating back to 2016, its findings are likely to have significant political ramifications, especially given the high-profile positions currently held by Fadnavis and Shinde. The report also raises broader questions about the alleged misuse of investigative agencies and police machinery for political ends.

Legal experts say that if criminal charges are filed as recommended, the matter could lead to prolonged legal proceedings and potentially expose deep fault lines in the functioning of the state’s law enforcement apparatus during the previous regime.

Shinde Focuses on Development Agenda

Against this backdrop, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde continued his campaign for the civic polls, addressing supporters in Pune a day before the SIT report became public. Campaigning ahead of the Pune Municipal Corporation elections, Shinde asserted that the ruling Mahayuti alliance is contesting the municipal elections on a development-focused agenda and is confident of victory in both Pune and Mumbai.

Speaking to the media during his visit to Katraj in Pune, Shinde said he was unaware of statements made by any individual party worker but emphasised that both the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party are fighting the elections with full strength and unity.

“We are fighting this election on the issue of development,” Shinde said. He added that the work carried out during his two-and-a-half-year tenure as Chief Minister, along with initiatives undertaken by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the past year, is being taken directly to the people as the basis of the alliance’s appeal.

What Lies Ahead

The SIT report’s recommendations now rest with the state government, which will decide on the next course of action, including whether to formally register cases against the officers named. If accepted, the findings could mark one of the most serious instances of alleged internal conspiracy within Maharashtra’s police leadership in recent years.

As Maharashtra heads into crucial civic elections, the political and administrative fallout from the SIT report is expected to reverberate well beyond the immediate case, shaping narratives around governance, accountability and the alleged politicisation of law enforcement in the state.