Shiv Sena Calls for Cyber Probe into Jarange Patil's Rs 500 Crore Allegation Against Eknath Shinde
The demand for an investigation into allegations of a Rs 500 crore payment to Deputy CM Eknath Shinde intensifies amidst political tensions.
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has urged the Maharashtra Cyber Cell to investigate a controversial audio clip.
The allegation claims that Rs 500 crore was paid to Eknath Shinde to quell Maratha reservation protests.
Congress leader Harshvardhan Sapkal has called for an ED probe, highlighting the implications of the audio clip.
The political landscape in Maharashtra is heating up as Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske has called for an investigation into allegations made by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil. Jarange-Patil has claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde received a payment of Rs 500 crore from the BJP to end his protests for Maratha reservations. Mhaske has specifically requested the Maharashtra Cyber Cell to authenticate a purported audio recording that is central to these allegations.
The controversy began when Jarange-Patil, during a Dussehra rally in Beed district, accused Shinde of instructing BJP leaders to arrange the substantial sum to silence him. Mhaske suggested that the audio clip is part of a larger conspiracy aimed at creating discord between Shinde and Jarange-Patil, potentially damaging the reputation of the Shiv Sena leader. He has urged Jarange-Patil to submit the recording for forensic analysis to confirm the identities of those involved.
Mhaske further claimed that the voices in the audio resemble those of notable BJP figures, including MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar and party spokesperson Sweta Shalini. He emphasized the need for the Cyber Cell to collect voice samples from these individuals to verify their presence in the recording. Mhaske stated that if the audio is genuine, the comments made about Shinde would be unacceptable, given the alliance between Shiv Sena and BJP.
In a parallel response, Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal has called for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate the matter, citing the serious nature of the Rs 500 crore allegation. Sapkal criticized the BJP for allegedly fabricating narratives to undermine opponents and manipulate electoral outcomes. He described the audio clip as revealing the BJP's tactics to divide society along religious and caste lines, which he claims threatens the democratic process.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has also joined the call for a thorough investigation, advocating for the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and the ED to take charge. Raut has insisted that Eknath Shinde be questioned as part of the inquiry. As the situation develops, the political ramifications of these allegations could significantly impact Maharashtra's governance and the ongoing Maratha reservation movement.
