₹500 Crore Audio Clip Triggers BJP-Shiv Sena Tussle, Shrikant Shinde Rejects Allegations
A disputed audio recording alleging a ₹500 crore payment to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sparked a fresh confrontation between Maharashtra’s ruling allies, the BJP and the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The controversy centres on claims that the money was allegedly routed through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. The recording’s authenticity, however, has not been independently established.
Jarange Patil has denied receiving or seeking the alleged payment, while both Eknath Shinde and his son have rejected the accusations. The episode has triggered a public exchange between leaders of the two parties, with allegations of political conspiracies emerging from both sides.
SHIV SENA LEADER ALLEGES CONSPIRACY AGAINST SHINDE
The dispute intensified after Shiv Sena leader and former minister Ramdas Kadam accused a section of the BJP of attempting to damage Eknath Shinde’s political standing.
On Friday, Kadam named BJP legislative council members Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad while displaying photographs of Lad sharing a meal with Jarange Patil. He alleged that efforts were underway to politically target Shinde, a prominent Maratha leader.
Darekar and Lad rejected the allegations, asserting that the BJP would not tolerate attempts to implicate its leaders without evidence. They also warned Kadam against adopting the confrontational style of Sanjay Raut, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader known for his criticism of the BJP.
Lad claimed that the individuals allegedly backing Jarange Patil behind the scenes against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis would eventually be identified. He also warned that the BJP would respond to the accusations.
EK NATH SHINDE AND SON DENY ₹500 CRORE PAYMENT
Eknath Shinde has firmly denied any involvement in the alleged transaction. Speaking in Delhi, he said that neither had he given ₹500 crore nor had he received such an amount.
The controversy escalated after Jarange Patil claimed at a rally in Beed earlier this week that discussions within BJP circles suggested he had received ₹500 crore through Shrikant Shinde.
On Thursday, the activist played the audio clip at a press conference in Jalna. The recording features an unidentified woman allegedly claiming that the money had been delivered to Jarange through the Shiv Sena MP. Other voices purportedly discuss ways to counter the activist’s influence in the Marathwada region before the 2024 elections.
Jarange has maintained that the recording is genuine, although the identities of all the speakers and the claims made in the conversation remain unverified.
Shrikant Shinde responded to the allegations on Saturday with sarcasm, joking about what ₹500 crore in cash would look like and how many vehicles would be needed to transport it.
FADNAVIS ORDERS FORENSIC PROBE
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a forensic examination of the audio clip after meeting a delegation representing the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Questioning the timing of the controversy, Fadnavis asked why the alleged conversations had surfaced after two and a half years. His remarks were reported by the Press Trust of India (PTI).
Eknath Shinde has said Jarange Patil should have verified the allegations before making them public and should hand over any evidence to the relevant investigative agencies.
The Shinde-led Shiv Sena has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the matter, even as Fadnavis announced the probe.
Jarange, meanwhile, has demanded that Ram Kadam be questioned about how the recording reached him.
PRASAD LAD SAYS DISPUTE IS CLOSED
Amid the escalating exchange, BJP leader Prasad Lad later indicated that the dispute had been settled following a conversation with Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant after discussions involving Eknath Shinde and Fadnavis.
Lad described the matter as closed and accused Sanjay Raut of attempting to create divisions between the two allies. He also reiterated his respect for Eknath Shinde, according to PTI.
However, the forensic examination remains important to establishing the recording’s authenticity and determining whether the allegations have any evidentiary basis.
AUDIO ROW ADDS TO ALLIANCE TENSIONS
The controversy has emerged against the backdrop of reports of friction between Fadnavis and Shinde. Earlier this month, Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil reportedly described Shinde as a future chief minister during a Dussehra rally, a remark said to have caused unease among BJP leaders.
While both parties remain partners in Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, the latest dispute has exposed competing accusations and sensitivities within the alliance.
For now, the key unanswered questions concern who recorded the conversation, whether the audio has been altered and whether any evidence supports the alleged ₹500 crore payment. The forensic findings and any subsequent investigation will be central to determining the facts.
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