The controversy started as allegations began doing the rounds that the former Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) Maharashtra government headed by Uddhav Thackeray had been behind a conspiracy to frame incumbent Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in false cases. As a reaction, the state Home Department constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the claims.
The formation of the SIT was announced on Tuesday by the senior cabinet minister Shambhuraje Desai in the Maharashtra Assembly. On the other hand, the team probing into this mystery will consist of senior IPS officer Satyanarayan Chaudhary and is asked to submit its report within 30 days.
The Allegations and Political Fallout
Sanjay Punamiya, a business man, based his allegations against the government with a sting operation that was said to have come out in media that planned arresting Shinde and Fadnavis. It is said a former police official was caught talking on tape which stated that it was the earlier leadership of the Mumbai Police, who were actually planning to send the two into judicial custody about a fabricated case.
The allegations sparked immediate outrage within the BJP ranks. MLC Pravin Darekar took the matter to the legislative council, demanding an official probe. In a dramatic move, he presented a pen drive containing what he claimed to be video evidence of the sting operation.
SIT mandate on plan of Maharashtra government against Eknath and Fadnavis
Political tensions are high, and with the controversy hotting up, the Maharashtra government moved swiftly by ordering the SIT inquiry. The probe will seek to authenticate the sting operation and find out whether a conspiracy was indeed hatched under the previous regime.
The possible findings of the SIT may have severe political consequences as it could tow in high-profile members of the MVA government against whom these allegations hold true. Opposition leaders, however, have termed these allegations as a diversionary tactic and have accused the ruling dispensation of misusing investigative agencies for political ends.
As the SIT starts investigation, everybody’s eyes are now on the results. Since they have 30 days to deliver their report, the Maharashtra political scenario will go through the ultimate drama in its history. In this backdrop, both parties would prepare to clash with each other over these incriminating charges.
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