BJP, Shiv Sena spar as CM Fadnavis orders probe into audio clip alleging ₹500 crore deal

Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday ordered a forensic investigation into the audio clip claiming a ₹500 crore payment meant to “manage” Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil, even as the issuetriggered a major slugfest between allies BJP and Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam demanded an answer from the BJP “because several BJP leaders’ names are heard in the audio clip”, and asked whether the BJP was getting insecure about Sena chief Eknath Shinde’s rise.

His statements came even as the BJP asked the Shiv Sena not to damage the ruling Mahayuti alliance by airing such issues in the public. Fadnavis, while announcing the forensic investigation, said: “We also have to figure out why this audio clip came out now after two-and-a-half years.”


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In the 2024 audio clip that Maratha leader Patil released on Thursday, a purported female BJP leader is heard claiming that Shinde received ₹500 crore from the BJP to manage Patil during elections. While Patil said the allegation was meant to damage his reservation movement, the Shiv Sena expressed intense outrage over the attack on Shinde’s image and demanded a swift investigation.

“Eknath Shinde joined in an alliance with you by placing his trust, but now even you are getting insecure about Eknath Shinde,” Kadam said on Friday in Mumbai, adding: “Is there someone in the BJP who is trying to hurt Shinde? Is there an attempt being done to stab Shinde in the back?” He was insinuating that the conversations of the alleged BJP leaders in the audio clip were meant to disparage the image of deputy CM Shinde.

He produced several photographs showing BJP leaders, including MLC Pravind Darekar, with Patil, implying that the Maratha leader was attacking Shinde at the behest of the BJP.

Meanwhile, Darekar took on Kadam for going public on the issue. “He is trying to make it sound as if the BJP is behind this (audio clip). This is unfortunate. He is part of an alliance in the government, and you abuse your ally in the government. This does not sit well with us,” the MLC said.