Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday that an audio clip released by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange , which purportedly claims that ₹ 500 crore had been delivered to him through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, would be investigated using forensic methods.
The quota activist had alleged on Thursday that a conspiracy had been hatched to silence him and weaken his Maratha agitation. “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? Who is being targeted? For what purpose? “The Shiv Sena delegation has sought a probe, and the BJP has done so too. One speaker reportedly claims that Jarange was portraying the BJP as anti-Maratha and discusses the need for Maratha and OBC leaders to consider the political implications. One speaker allegedly suggests countering Jarange indirectly through other people, while another warns that his growing influence could pose a political challenge to the party in Marathwada.
Therefore, the matter will certainly be thoroughly investigated using forensic methods, and we will uncover whatever truth there is,” he said. He made the audio public after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dared him to prove the allegation that the latter had secured ₹ 500 crore from the BJP and funnelled it via his son and MP Shrikant Shinde.
There are many questions in this regard,” said Fadnavis. He said even Jarange has also demanded an investigation concerning the audio.
Fadnavis was speaking to reporters here after casting his vote for the Nagpur Graduates’ seat in the Maharashtra Legislative Council (MLC) elections.
Asked about a delegation of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena office-bearers meeting him over Jarange’s claims, Fadnavis said he had made it clear that any audio clips or conversations that had emerged would be subjected to a thorough forensic examination.
