Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has ordered an SIT to investigate Rs 5.5 crore cash found in a Dhule guest house room allegedly linked to MLA Arjun Khotkar’s aide. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claims the cash was meant to bribe Estimates Committee members.
Arjun Khotkar, chairman of the Estimates Committee
A special Investigation Team (SIT) has been announced to probe allegations of Rs 5.5 crore in cash being found in a room at the Government Guest House in Dhule, booked by a personal assistant of state Estimates Committee Chairman Arjun Khotkar — an MLA from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Late on Wednesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut alleged that his party workers foiled an attempt to bribe members of the committee. “The money was to bribe the committee,” Raut alleged and demanded a detailed inquiry in this case. The Sena MP further claimed that former Sena MLA Anil Gote and other party workers got to know about the cash being kept in the guest house room. Subsequently, they rushed to the guest house and locked the room, demanding a thorough probe into the matter.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. File Pics
However, Khotjar — a former UBT camp leader who shifted loyalties to Shinde — refuted the allegations while speaking with the media, saying neither he nor his PAs had any links to the incident.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the allegations as serious in nature and ordered an SIT to find the truth in the case. “The truth has yet to come to light. But any attempt to cast a shadow over the dignity of the Maharashtra legislature is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The inquiry committee will probe and uncover the facts and bring the truth to the fore,” Fadnavis said.
The CM further stated that he would even request the state Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar and Legislative Council Chairman Ram Shinde to set up an Ethics Committee to probe the case.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders alleged that the cash recovered from the room was intended to bribe Estimates Committee members during their visit to Dhule. The committee is empowered to inspect development projects and scrutinise fund allocation for the work.
The funds are allocated for development work from the state budget. In fact, on Wednesday night, UBT leaders even alleged that despite alerting state machinery, the superintendent of police and district collector, there was no support from the administration for three to four hours.
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