Lagatar24 Desk
Mumbai: In a significant political development, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Anil Deshmukh has made explosive allegations against BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Deshmukh claimed that an intermediary from Fadnavis’ camp pressured him to provide affidavits implicating prominent leaders of the then Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, including former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Deshmukh, a former Maharashtra home minister, stated on Wednesday that a person sent by Fadnavis approached him with pre-prepared affidavits. He was allegedly asked to make written accusations against Uddhav Thackeray, his son Aaditya Thackeray, then Finance Minister Ajit Pawar, and then Transport Minister Anil Parab.
“I was pressured to make false allegations and was told that if I complied, neither the ED nor the CBI would target me. I refused, even if it meant going to jail for life,” Deshmukh said, adding that his refusal led to actions by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against him.
Deshmukh also claimed the intermediary urged him to falsely accuse Aaditya Thackeray of raping Disha Salian, the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s ex-manager, and throwing her from a balcony.
Deshmukh resigned as home minister in April 2021 following allegations by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who accused him of asking police to collect money from hotel and bar owners.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut supported Deshmukh’s claims, alleging that the NCP leader was imprisoned as part of a conspiracy. “Anil Deshmukh told me two years ago in jail that he was pressured to name Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Aaditya Thackeray or face the ED’s wrath,” Raut stated.
Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, dismissed the allegations as baseless. “Anil Deshmukh should be aware that his party leaders have given me multiple pieces of audio-visual evidence of his comments about Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and controversial police officer Sachin Waze. If false accusations continue, I will have no choice but to release this evidence,” Fadnavis warned.
BJP leader Ram Kadam labeled the accusations as “objectionable” and questioned the timing, suggesting it might be an attempt to tarnish Fadnavis’ image ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. “Anil Deshmukh, who was jailed for extortion, is now making baseless allegations against Devendra Fadnavis. Why did he stay silent for two years if his claims are true?” Kadam asked.
