The Rajya Sabha MP, in a post on X, said, "Four ministers and many officers have been honey trapped." He did not name anyone but alleged that four young MPs from the then-united Shiv Sena were trapped in similar ways and later joined the Eknath Shinde-led faction
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. File pic
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday claimed that four ministers in the Maharashtra government and several government officials have been "honey-trapped." His statement was strongly denied by BJP leader and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who asked Raut to show proof.
In a post on X, Raut said, "Four ministers and many officers have been honey trapped." However, he did not name anyone.
The Rajya Sabha MP also alleged that four young MPs from the then-united Shiv Sena were trapped in similar ways and later joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
“Of the MPs who left the (undivided Shiv Sena), four were honey trapped and they were pressured and got cleansed after joining hands with the BJP,” Raut told reporters in New Delhi.
Last week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the state assembly that no honeytrap-related blackmail case had come to light in Maharashtra. But Raut on Monday said, “Fadnavis lied in the House and that he knows four ministers were 'honey trapped'.”
Earlier, Congress MLA Nana Patole also raised this issue in the assembly. He said a honeytrap racket was targeting officials in Thane, Nashik and Mumbai’s Mantralaya (the state secretariat), and claimed he had proof saved in a pen drive.
Responding to the allegations, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said Raut must present evidence if he has any.
“He should not be afraid. If he has any material related to honeytrap claims, he must come forward and show it,” Bawankule told reporters, adding, “This is nothing but a poor attempt to stay in the limelight.”
He also said, “The MVA leaders could not even save their own MLAs and MPs. Now they are resorting to falsehoods.”
Bawankule dismissed another claim by Raut that a minister linked to a Nashik honeytrap case went to Guwahati during the 2022 Shiv Sena rebellion held under Eknath Shinde.
He repeated what CM Fadnavis had earlier said: “If the opposition has any proof, they should present it to the people. They should not fear anyone.”
No names have been revealed so far, and the government has not announced any official inquiry into the claims.
(With PTI inputs)
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