Former Mumbai Police Chief Sanjay Pandey joins Congress ahead of Maharashtra Assembly polls
Sep 19, 2024
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], September 19 : Former Mumbai Commissioner Sanjay Pandey on Thursday joined the Congress in the presence of state Congress President Varsha Gaikwad.
Addressing the press conference, Pandey said that he has been thinking about entering active politics for a long time.
"I am not joining a party but a family. I wanted to join the Congress way back in 2004, but didn't get a chance," Pandey said.
Calling himself a 'secular' minded person, the retired IPS officer said that no other political party except the Congress follows secular ideology.
"As a retired police commissioner, I can say how false cases were filed against me," he added.
In a post on X, Mumbai Congress President said that she is glad to welcome former DGP of Maharashtra and former CP of Mumbai Sanjay Pandey to the Congress family.
"I am glad to welcome former DGP of Maharashtra and former CP of Mumbai Sanjay Pandey ji to the Congress family today. His integrity and dedication to upholding justice, even when facing politically motivated charges by BJP, reflect the core values we stand for," Gaikwad posted on X.
She further said that Pandey has been a beacon of honesty, always prioritising democracy and constitutional morality, even under severe pressure.
"Throughout his career, Shri Pandey Ji has been a beacon of honesty, always prioritising democracy and constitutional morality, even under severe pressure. His experience and steadfast commitment will strengthen our collective fight for truth and justice. Looking forward to working together for a better, fairer India," she added.
Pandey is a 1986-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who retired from service on June 30, 2022
The retired 1986-batch IPS officer was arrested in 2022 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged illegal phone tapping of National Stock Exchange (NSE) employees. The Delhi High Court subsequently granted him bail.
