Maharashtra SIT Formed to Probe Jarange Audio Clip Claims
Mumbai Police form a Special Investigation Team to investigate claims of a Rs 500 crore payout to activist Manoj Jarange Patil.
The Mumbai Police have established a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate explosive allegations involving a purported Rs 500 crore payout to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. The move comes following direct instructions from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to get to the bottom of the controversy.
The Core of the Allegation
The investigation centers on an audio recording that has sparked a political firestorm across the state. The clip alleges that Manoj Jarange Patil was offered a staggering Rs 500 crore to weaken the movement for Maratha reservation ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections. According to the claims, the money was allegedly facilitated by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde—son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde—acting on the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
SIT Mandate and Forensic Analysis
The newly formed SIT is led by Shailesh Balkawade, the Additional CP of the South Region in Mumbai. A primary objective for the team will be to conduct a thorough forensic examination of the audio recordings presented by Jarange Patil to determine their authenticity.
For his part, Manoj Jarange Patil has vehemently denied receiving any money. The activist not only demanded a high-level investigation into the matter but also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene personally to ensure a fair probe.
Political Fallout and Allegations of 'Buying' Protests
The audio clip has triggered a significant political row, exposing tensions within the Mahayuti alliance. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has escalated the matter by writing to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) take over the case.
Raut argued that the case falls under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In a scathing post on X, Raut claimed that while the BJP is known for "buying" MPs, MLAs, and political parties, it has now moved toward "buying agitations." He questioned the source of the alleged Rs 500 crore and whether the funds actually reached the activist.
BJP's Counter-Claim: The AI Angle
The BJP has dismissed the allegations as a fabrication. Party spokesperson Navnath Kamal Uttamrao Ban has accused Sanjay Raut of using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to create a fake audio clip intended to mislead the public and destabilize the government.