Thane Crime Branch Officer Sanjay Shinde Under Scrutiny: Past Allegations Resurface Following Retaliatory Firing Incident
Thane, 26th September 2024: Senior police inspector Sanjay Shinde, the Thane crime branch officer involved in the controversial “retaliatory firing” that killed the janitor accused in the Badlapur school children sexual assault case, has a troubled history within the force. Former Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik had once recommended Shinde’s dismissal due to a series of misconduct and interference in investigations.
While stationed at the Mumbai crime branch’s Unit-8, Shinde was suspended after failing to act when his relative, Vijay Palande, briefly escaped police custody on April 10, 2022. Palande, involved in the Arun Tikku and Karan Kakad murder cases, shares a family connection with Shinde through marriage. Patnaik had ordered an inquiry into Shinde’s suspected links to serious crimes and proposed his dismissal under Article 311 of the Indian Constitution, but the then DGP rejected the recommendation, citing insufficient evidence, and instead suggested a departmental inquiry.
Further allegations surfaced, claiming Shinde instructed officers at the Amboli police station to release Palande, who had been called for questioning in a missing person’s case that later turned into a murder investigation. Crime branch officials believed Shinde was protecting Palande, who had a prior murder conviction.
Shinde’s career also involved working closely with the controversial encounter specialist Pradeep Sharma, who is currently facing murder charges in the case of Thane businessman Mansukh Hiren. Additionally, Shinde was allegedly linked to deported gangster Abu Salem in connection with the kidnapping of Milton Plastics MD Chiranjeev Vaghani in 2000.
In another incident, Shinde was reportedly under investigation for accidentally shooting himself in the foot while intoxicated at a bar, according to a police source.
