Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Initiates Investigation into Rs 500 Crore Allegation
Maharashtra's Chief Minister has ordered a probe into claims of a Rs 500 crore payment linked to Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil.
Manoj Jarange Patil denies receiving any money amid allegations.
The audio recording has sparked demands for a forensic investigation from both Shiv Sena and BJP.
Fadnavis emphasizes the need to uncover the motives behind the audio's emergence.
In a significant political development, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Friday that a thorough investigation will be conducted regarding an audio recording released by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil. The recording allegedly claims that Rs 500 crore was transferred to Jarange Patil through the son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, MP Shrikant Shinde. Jarange Patil has firmly stated that he has not received any funds and believes the allegations are an attempt to undermine the ongoing Maratha reservation movement.
The controversy arises amid ongoing tensions between the Shiv Sena and BJP, with both parties calling for a detailed inquiry. Jarange Patil, who leads the Shivba Sangathana, has also requested a probe into the matter. He expressed concerns over a conspiracy to harm him during a recent march in Mumbai, asserting that he would rather face death than abandon his cause for Maratha reservations.
Fadnavis, who also serves as the state's Home Minister, met with a delegation from Shiv Sena on Thursday evening, where they requested a forensic audit of the audio clip. He assured reporters in Nagpur that any audio evidence would undergo rigorous forensic scrutiny. "We all have the same question: why have these conversations emerged now, after two and a half years? What exactly are the motives behind their emergence?" he questioned, highlighting the need for clarity on the situation.
The viral audio features a woman claiming that Rs 500 crore was delivered to Jarange Patil via Dr. Shrikant Shinde. It also discusses the potential political ramifications of Jarange Patil's rising influence as the demand for Maratha quotas intensifies ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. During a Dussehra rally, Jarange Patil alleged that he had overheard discussions suggesting that the BJP leadership planned to pay him to undermine the Maratha reservation agitation.
In light of these allegations, the Shiv Sena delegation, which included various MPs and ministers, reiterated the importance of verifying the authenticity of the recording. They emphasized the need to determine whether there was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of Shiv Sena leaders or disrupt social harmony in the state. The investigation is expected to shed light on the truth behind these serious allegations and the motivations of those involved.
