Deshmukh alleges Fadnavis pressured him to implicate Thackerays

Deshmukh's statement comes in the wake of similar accusations made by social activist Shyam Manav of the All India Anti-Superstition Committee.

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. (File Photos)

Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday alleged that an intermediary of BJP leader and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis had asked him to provide affidavits against important figures in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to avoid getting embroiled in litigation himself, an allegation Fadnavis has denied. Deshmukh has alleged that he was instructed by the intermediary to accuse Uddhav Thackeray of soliciting funds for the municipal elections and was also asked to accuse Aaditya Thackeray of involvement in the death of Disha Salian.

“I refused to make that accusation,” he stated, speaking from Nagpur. According to Deshmukh, three years ago when he was the state Home Minister, an individual sent by Fadnavis approached him with this offer at his official residence. “I don’t make any allegation without any proof. I will reveal it at the appropriate time,” he said.

Fadnavis refuted all the allegations warning he doesn’t cross path with anyone but if anybody crosses it, he doesn’t spare that person. “Even I have audio visuals of Anil Deshmukh talking ill about Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, Sachin Waze. If I am forced, I will make those public,” said Fadnavis.

Deshmukh’s statement comes in the wake of similar accusations made by social activist Shyam Manav of the All India Anti-Superstition Committee. Earlier, Manav too had made similar allegations against Fadnavis accusing him of pressuring Deshmukh to implicate the Thackerays.

Deshmukh added that he was also asked to make allegations against former minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab. “Furthermore, I was told to accuse Ajit Pawar in connection with gutka traders. Because I refused to comply, I had to spend 13 months in prison,” he claimed.

Rejecting all the claims Fadnavis said, “When Anil Deshmukh faced probes, we were not in the government. It was the Bombay High Court which directed to file case against Deshmukh. He was jailed during the MVA government and not us. Deshmukh has come out of jail on bail and not being declared innocent,” he said.

Deshmukh, an NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader, stepped down as Home Minister in April 2021 after then Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh accused him of asking police to collect money from hotel and bar owners in the city.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:
Mumbai