₹500-Crore Bombshell Rocks Maha Politics: Jarange Drops Audio Clip After Eknath Shinde Says ‘Show Proof’

First came the explosive allegation that Eknath Shinde took ₹500 crore from the BJP in Manoj Jarange Patil’s name to end the Maratha agitation. Then came Shinde’s denial and challenge to produce evidence.

Now, a purported audio clip has raised the political temperature — but its authenticity remains unverified.

Maharashtra’s political battle over the Maratha reservation movement has taken a fresh turn, with activist Manoj Jarange Patil releasing a purported audio clip after alleging that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took ₹500 crore from the BJP in his name to end the agitation.

The allegation surfaced at Jarange’s Dussehra rally in Narayangad, Beed, on Tuesday. 

Shinde hit back on Wednesday, denied giving or receiving the money and challenged Jarange to produce evidence. 

On Thursday, Jarange brought out the recording he claims supports his charge.

But the clip has not been independently authenticated, and neither the identities of the speakers nor the context of the conversation have been established.

₹500-Crore Charge: ‘I Haven’t Even Seen ₹5,000’

At his Dussehra rally, Jarange alleged that discussions within political circles suggested Shinde had told BJP leaders that ₹500 crore had been taken in Jarange’s name to bring the Maratha reservation agitation to an end.

He also raised questions about whether the alleged money had been routed through a Lok Sabha MP and Shinde’s son, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.

Jarange insisted that he had not received any money and demanded an explanation from the Deputy Chief Minister.

“I haven’t even seen ₹5,000,” he said, according to reports, alleging that a conspiracy had been hatched to undermine him and the Maratha movement.

The allegation was linked to Jarange’s January 2024 agitation, when Shinde, then Chief Minister, intervened as the activist’s protest in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, came to an end.

Jarange alleged that the controversy pointed to an attempt to weaken the movement and divide the Maratha community. He said he had evidence and would make it public.

Shinde’s Counter: Deny The Deal, Demand Proof

Shinde rejected the ₹500-crore allegation and said he had neither given nor received such an amount from the BJP.

He challenged Jarange to verify his claims and submit any evidence to the appropriate authorities rather than make serious allegations without substantiation. Shinde also said he was ready for an inquiry.

The exchange turned the dispute into a direct test of claims and counterclaims: Jarange insisted that evidence existed, while Shinde demanded that it be produced.

Then Came The Audio Clip

On Thursday, Jarange released a purported audio recording that he claims supports his allegation.

According to reports describing the clip, a woman speaking in Hindi allegedly discusses a ₹500-crore payment and claims that the money reached Jarange through Shrikant Shinde. The reported conversation also touches on political efforts to counter Jarange’s influence ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Jarange has alleged that attempts were made to weaken the Maratha agitation and create divisions within the community. He has called for an investigation into the matter.

But an audio clip is not, by itself, proof that the alleged transaction took place.

Its authenticity, the identities of the speakers and the context of the conversation remain unverified. The allegations contained in it have not been independently substantiated.

Political Fallout: Questions Over The Clip And Its Timing

Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam questioned why Jarange had waited so long to release the recording if it was genuine. Kadam also called for clarity about the speakers and the context, while alleging that the controversy could create friction between the BJP and the Shiv Sena.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, meanwhile, called for an investigation into the allegations and scrutiny by the appropriate agencies.

The row has also revived the political backdrop of the 2024 elections, when the BJP and Shiv Sena together won 16 of Maharashtra’s 48 Lok Sabha seats, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi secured 31 and the NCP won one.

Jarange’s allegation is that money was allegedly offered to end his agitation and influence Maratha political sentiment. The election results, however, do not establish that any such payment occurred.

Until the clip is authenticated and the allegations are investigated, the ₹500-crore deal remains an unproven allegation — not an established fact.