Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Ex-IPS officer Sanjay Pandey drops plans to contest from Mumbai North-Central seat

Mumbai:  Former IPS officer Sanjay Pandey, who had decided to contest the Lok Sabha elections as an Independent candidate from Mumbai North-Central, on Wednesday announced his decision to stay away from politics for now.

Pandey, an officer of the 1986-batch of the IPS,  had served as Mumbai Police Commissioner and Director General of Maharashtra Police.  

Considered close to Shiv Sena (UBT) head and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Pandey was arrested in June 2022 by central agencies in connection with the National Stock Exchange (NSE) phone-tapping case.

"…the people of Mumbai who have stood by me, on this auspicious Maharashtra Day, I express my  deepest gratitude and promise that this is not the end. I will return stronger, and I will continue to  support the people of my beautiful city Mumbai and my country India,” he said.

From Mumbai North-Central, the two main candidates are Prof Varsha Gaikwad of Congress and Advocate Ujjwal Nikam of the BJP.