Some ministers in Mahayuti govt switched off phones out of snooping fear, claims Rohit Pawar

Rohit Pawar. Pic/PTI

NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar has claimed that some ministers in the Maharashtra government have switched off their phones out of fear that they are being tapped.

Hitting back, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar demanded proof of the allegations.

"Phone numbers of some ministers are not reachable. The whispers are that they have switched off their phones out of fear of being tapped. The coming days will tell whether this is a fact or mere whispers," Pawar stated on X on Friday.

Rohit Pawar, a second-time MLA from Karjat Jamkhed, is the general secretary of the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP).

"Everyone has the right to make allegations, but while doing so, they should give proof to substantiate the allegations," Ajit Pawar told reporters.

The phone tapping allegations surfaced amid claims by Shiv Sena (UBT) that a Cabinet reshuffle is on the cards and at least five to six ministers, most of them from Shiv Sena, headed by Eknath Shinde, may be sacked.

Meanwhile, the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rohit Pawar on Wednesday claimed that an MLA's relative was allegedly involved in a firing incident at an art centre in Daund taluka in Pune district of Maharashtra.

Pawar has demanded police action into the matter and alleged that there was political pressure on the police.

According to the reports, a firing incident was reported at an art centre in Daund taluka on Monday.

The reports suggest that the brother of a ruling party MLA from Pune district allegedly created a disturbance by opening fire inside the premises and a young woman was reportedly injured in the incident.

In a post on X, Rohit Pawar wrote, "A young woman was injured in a shooting incident at an art centre in Daund by the brother of a ruling MLA from Pune district. It is being reported that instead of finding out who the indiscriminate shooters are, the police are trying to suppress the case due to pressure from the ruling party."

Pawar further wrote, "Will action be taken against the culprits or not? Or will they leave him free just because he is in power? What kind of 'power spectacle' is this? The police should take action against those who violate law and order. The police should take action against those who violate law and order without succumbing to any pressure."

(With inputs from Agencies)