Did Eknath Shinde Pay ₹500 Cr? Fadnavis Orders Forensic Probe Into Jarange’s Explosive Audio Claims
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Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday announced a forensic investigation into audio clips released by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil, which contain explosive allegations of a ₹500-crore payment linked to an alleged political conspiracy ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections.
The recordings, released by Jarange-Patil a day earlier, have triggered a political storm, with the BJP demanding verification of their authenticity and questioning whether they could be AI-generated. Fadnavis said the investigation would establish whose voices feature in the clips and examine the circumstances surrounding their release after a gap of two and a half years.
₹500-Crore Allegation Puts Shrikant Shinde In The Spotlight
One of the clips features a woman purportedly claiming that ₹500 crore was paid to Jarange-Patil through Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Shinde to benefit the BJP electorally.
The allegation has been denied by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, while leaders of his Shiv Sena faction have rejected the recordings and the claims made around them.
Sanjay Shirsat, Uday Samant and Dada Bhuse described the allegations as part of a smear campaign intended to defame Eknath Shinde. They have also demanded an inquiry.
The claims remain unverified, and the forensic investigation is expected to examine the recordings and identify the voices heard in them.
‘Love Jihad’ Clip Adds To Political Row
Another purported recording features a person described as a BJP leader discussing the need to amplify cases of “love jihad” to influence public opinion.
The BJP has sought a probe into whether the recordings are genuine or have been generated or manipulated using artificial intelligence.
Fadnavis said the inquiry would examine both the identities of the speakers and the motives behind releasing the clips after such a long interval. He said an impartial investigation would bring out the complete truth.
He made the announcement in Nagpur, where he had gone to vote in the Legislative Council graduate constituency election.
Jarange-Patil Claims Three-Year Political Conspiracy
Jarange-Patil played a 31-minute audio recording at a press conference in Jalna, claiming it exposed a political conspiracy that had been operating for the past three years to weaken the Maratha reservation movement and damage his reputation.
He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the allegations.
The recordings have now become the focus of a political confrontation, with Jarange-Patil demanding answers and Shiv Sena leaders rejecting the claims.
The forensic probe will be crucial in determining whether the clips are authentic, whose voices they contain and whether they support the allegations being made.
