Former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh’s recent accusations against Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have sparked significant political controversy.
Deshmukh claimed that Fadnavis urged him to frame Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray, among others.
Deshmukh, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2021 for alleged money laundering and spent several months in jail, received support from UBT Sena leader Sanjay Raut. Raut alleged that Deshmukh’s imprisonment was part of a conspiracy and that he was pressured to falsely implicate Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Aaditya Thackeray.
“Anil Deshmukh was sent to jail as a part of a conspiracy. Before he was sent to jail, there was pressure put on him to implicate Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, and Aaditya. He was also told that if he did not do this he would be sent to jail. Two years ago, when both of us were in jail, Deshmukh told this to me. BJP can do such a thing. Many leaders in the BJP have been forced to do such a thing. There is truth in what Anil Deshmukh ji has said.”
On Wednesday, NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh accused Devendra Fadnavis of asking him to file four affidavits against Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, and Anil Parab. Deshmukh stated, “3 years ago, Devendra Fadnavis sent a man to me and asked me to write four affidavits. I was asked to make written allegations against Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, and Anil Parab. Devendra Fadnavis sent the affidavits and asked me to sign them. I was told that if I did this, then neither ED nor CBI would come after me.”
Deshmukh further explained that he refused to make false allegations, leading to actions by the ED and CBI against him. “I was pressurised but I clearly said that even if I have to go to jail for life, I will not make false allegations. I did not bow down and that is why ED and CBI were sent after me. I was asked to give a false affidavit that Aaditya Thackeray raped Disha Salian and threw her from the balcony.”
In response, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis denied the accusations, asserting that he would not tolerate personal allegations. Speaking to ANI, Fadnavis noted that the FIR against Deshmukh was filed by the CBI following orders from the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, during a period when Fadnavis’ party was not in power in the state.
He said, “The FIR against Anil Deshmukh was registered by CBI after clear orders by the Chief Justice of Bombay HC and at that time it was not even our government in the state. Anil Deshmukh has been making personal allegations against me for a long time now. Usually, I don’t go behind anyone but if someone comes for me, in response I don’t spare that individual.”
Fadnavis also mentioned having audio and video recordings from Deshmukh’s party members, which allegedly contain incriminating statements about Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. He stated, “I have several audio/videos provided by Anil Deshmukh’s party-men in which he is heard saying a lot about Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar saheb. When the time comes, will release those.”
