Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis breaks silence over ₹500 crore from Maratha activist

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File | Photo credit: PTI

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday (Oct 23, 2026) broke his silence on Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s recent allegation that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde allegedly took ₹500 crore from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) central leadership and gave it to son S Shiant Senhrik. Shinde.

The Chief Minister said that the alleged audio clip would be sent for forensic examination and the truth would come out. The opposition attacked the government, which tried to investigate the matter thoroughly.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has called on Union Minister Amit Shah and central agencies to investigate the claim. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has already denied the allegations, while a delegation of his party also met the Chief Minister to seek a thorough probe into the matter.

Mr. Jarange Patil’s claim created a political storm in the state and drove a wedge between the ruling alliance partners.

“Who is the target?”

“We all wonder why this clip has leaked after 2.5 years. What is the purpose behind it? Who is it targeting? Why? There is a demand for a thorough probe not only from Jarange Patil but also from the Shiv Sena but also from the BJP. We will do a thorough probe. We will bring out the truth in this matter,” Mr Fadnavis said.

Sources in the BJP admitted that the 2.5-year-old clip had damaged its image in the Maratha community and angered its alliance partners. “It has increased mistrust between the alliance partners. There were already some quarrels. This has only added to them. It is damaging the alliance. Not only that, it is also damaging the party. It has distanced us further from the Maratha community. But it will not do anything. We have strong numbers,” said a senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.

Clipped its wings: Shiv Sena

The Shiv Sena leadership has already made public statements accusing the BJP of working against them. Party sources said they see this as an attempt by the state BJP leadership to clip its wings. “Some elements are trying to complete Maratha leadership in the state,” a Shiv Sena leader said on condition of anonymity.

Party sources said this comes at a time when a Maratha chief minister is being debated in the state against the backdrop of the current unrest in the Maratha community. “There is speculation in political circles that the BJP leader is doing this (leaked audio clip) to damage both Mr. Fadnavis and Mr. Shinde to clear the way for the leader. However, it is disturbing to us that such a discussion (in the leaked audio clip) should take place in the BJP central committee meeting,” the Sena leader said.

Maharashtra government minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant has already named BJP leader Shweta Shalini, MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, Youtuber Sushant Kulkarni as some of the voices in the audio clip released by Jarange Patil. He declared an attempt to tarnish the image of Shrikant Shinde and asked the BJP to drop the charges.

The audio clip, in which some political strategists are reportedly heard discussing strategies to counter Jarange Patil’s influence, consolidate OBC vote bank in favor of BJP, discuss media strategies, has not only led to further deepening mistrust between alliance partners, but has also affected caste equations for BJP’s vote bank considerations and tarnished the party’s image.

Published – 23 October 2026 20:00 IST