Former APMC market director, Sanjay Pansare, arrested and sent to police custody for two days

The Crime Branch of the Navi Mumbai Police apprehended Sanjay Pansare, the former director of APMC Market, in connection with the public toilet scandal at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee premises in Vashi. Pansare stands accused of approving a proposal to drastically reduce the monthly rent of M. Nirmala Industrial Institute from Rs. 61,000 to Rs. 8,000. Allegations suggest that Pansare, along with other APMC officials, arbitrarily allocated toilets within the market premises to favoured organizations, resulting in a loss of approximately Rs. 7.61 crore to the APMC market.

Following investigations, the Economic Offenses Branch of Navi Mumbai Police filed a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act against eight individuals, including former NCP MLA Shashikant Shinde and other officials. Earlier arrests included Suresh Maru, Manesh Patil, and Sidram Katkadhond. Pansare's arrest came after suspicions of financial impropriety and a potential conflict of interest in his dealings with M. Nirmala Industrial Institute and other toilet operators.

During interrogation, it was revealed that Pansare allegedly derived financial benefits from the allocation process. Further, authorities suspect financial ties between Pansare and additional toilet operators. The Crime Branch took Pansare into custody for questioning, leading to his formal arrest and subsequent presentation in the Sessions Court. He has been remanded to police custody for two days to facilitate further investigation into the matter.

In a related development, former NCP MLA Shashikant Shinde, one of the accused, has been granted interim bail by the High Court. However, the bail applications of seven other accused individuals were denied by the District and Additional Sessions Court at CBD Belapur on April 22.