23 October,2026 01:14 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. File Pic
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said a purported audio clip released by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, which allegedly refers to a Rs 500-crore payment routed to him through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, would be subjected to a forensic examination.
Fadnavis was speaking to reporters in Nagpur after casting his vote in the Nagpur Graduates' constituency during the Maharashtra Legislative Council elections. The recording has triggered a political controversy, with leaders from the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena seeking an investigation into its authenticity and contents.
Asked about a delegation of office-bearers from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena meeting him over Jarange's claims, Fadnavis said he had made it clear that the audio clips and conversations that had emerged would be thoroughly examined.
"We all have the same question: why have these conversations emerged now, after two and a half years? What exactly are the motives behind their emergence? Who is being targeted? For what purpose? There are many questions in this regard," Fadnavis said.
He added that Jarange himself had sought an investigation into the recording.
"The Shiv Sena delegation has sought a probe, and the BJP has done so too. Therefore, the matter will certainly be thoroughly investigated using forensic methods, and we will uncover whatever truth there is," he said.
The controversy escalated on Thursday after Jarange released the purported audio clip, alleging that a conspiracy had been hatched to silence him and weaken his agitation for Maratha reservation.
The activist made the recording public after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde challenged him to substantiate his allegation that Rs 500 crore had been secured from the BJP and routed through Shrikant Shinde, Shinde's son and a Lok Sabha MP.
In one of the clips, a woman is allegedly heard claiming that the money was delivered to Jarange through Shrikant Shinde. The recording also purportedly contains discussions about the political impact of Jarange's growing influence ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
A delegation of Shiv Sena leaders and lawmakers met Fadnavis on Thursday, seeking a probe into the recording. The party has questioned the alleged involvement of individuals whose names have surfaced in connection with the clip and called for the authenticity of the conversation to be established.
The BJP has also sought an investigation, with party leaders questioning whether the recording is genuine or could have been manipulated. The identities of the speakers and the context of the alleged conversation remain unverified.
The recording, which has circulated widely, purportedly contains discussions about ways to counter Jarange's influence in Marathwada, where he has raised issues related to Maratha reservation, farmers' concerns and loan waivers.
One speaker allegedly claims that Jarange was portraying the BJP as anti-Maratha and discusses the political implications for Maratha and Other Backward Classes (OBC) leaders. Another purportedly suggests countering the activist indirectly through other people, while a speaker warns that his growing influence could pose a political challenge in the region.
(With inputs from PTI)
