Raut alleges Rs 5.5 crore found in govt guest house in a bid to bribe Estimates panel, CM orders SIT probe
In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Raut alleged that over Rs 5.5 crore in cash was found in Room number 102 of the government rest house in Dhule city.
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Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said he would urge both the Assembly Speaker and the Council chairperson to also set up independent ethics committees to examine the matter further. (File Photo)Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced setting up of a Special Investigation Team after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday alleged that an attempt was made to bribe the members of the Maharashtra legislature’s Estimates Committee during their official tour in Dhule.
In a post on social media platform X on Wednesday, Raut alleged that over Rs 5.5 crore in cash was found in Room number 102 of the government rest house in Dhule city. The cash, he alleged, was meant to influence committee members and suppress findings related to irregularities in development works. The estimates committee, headed by Shiv Sena MLA Arjun Khotkar, is empowered to scrutinise the utilisation of funds allocated to a particular area in the state budget.
“Despite informing the district collector, superintendent of police and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, there was no action for hours,” Raut wrote. “The administration did not cooperate. The money was intended to shield corruption and protect officials involved.”
According to the Rajya Sabha MP, the cash-laden room was secured by former MLA Anil Anna Gote and local Sena (UBT) workers, who locked it and stood guard.
“The person in whose name the room was booked should be investigated,” Raut later told reporters, demanding an impartial inquiry.
Khotkar, however, rejected the accusations and said his personal assistant did not book the room in question, asserting instead that a different room had been reserved.
Speaking in Mumbai, Chief Minister Fadnavis termed the matter “serious”, and said that an SIT would look into the origin and intended use of the cash. “The full truth must come out. The image of a legislature committee cannot be compromised. The respect and dignity of the House must be upheld,” he said.
Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, said he would urge both the Assembly Speaker and the Council chairperson to also set up independent ethics committees to examine the matter further.
“Legislative committees must function without any shadow of suspicion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Dhule Superintendent of Police Shrikant Dhivare confirmed that an inquiry is underway.
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