Efforts being made to discredit Rs 500 crore audio clip, says Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Sunday said efforts were being made to discredit the audio clip he released which allegedly refers to a Rs 500 crore payment linked to the Maratha reservation agitation by claiming it was fabricated using artificial intelligence AIJarange also ruled out any involvement of Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray leader Sanjay Raut in the recordingThe Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party BJP has alleged that Raut was behind the clip a charge the Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament MP has dismissed as baselessReleased by Jarange on Thursday the audio clip purportedly features a conversation between BJP functionaries about a payment of Rs 500 crore to the activist through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath ShindeSpeaking to reporters in Ankushnagar Jarange claimed that those who allegedly conspired to undermine the Maratha reservation agitation were unsettled after the recording surfaced and were now attempting to discredit it by questioning its authenticityJarange maintained that the viral audio was genuine and called for a thorough investigation including forensic examination of the recording by the state authoritiesJarange demands forensic probe alleges conspiracy to tarnish his imageldquoChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde must ensure a thorough investigation into the recording including its forensic examination If the chief minister fails to bring out the truth it will raise questions about his own involvement in the conspiracyrdquo Jarange claimedHe further alleged that people facing questions over the recording were travelling to Delhi to protect themselves without naming anyoneClaiming that attempts were being made behind the scenes to derail the agitation and tarnish his image Jarange said he would present evidence before the Maratha community and the people of Maharashtra to expose those allegedly involved in the plotResponding to a question about Raut Jarange said the Shiv Sena UBT leader had no connection with the audio clip He alleged that the ruling Mahayuti alliance constituents were trying to protect one another instead of establishing the truthJarange said the Maratha community had supported the BJP the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawarled NCP but alleged that the ruling alliance was now prioritising its political interests over the communityrsquos demandsldquoYou Mahayuti are concerned about your alliance not the Maratha communityrdquo he saidNanded farmerrsquos death Jarange demands strict action against those responsibleSeparately Jarange called for a thorough police investigation into the death of a farmer in NandedThe farmer identified as Chandrakant Shinde 40 was found hanging inside the office of a private finance company in Nanded city Police registered a case of murder and kidnapping against the companyrsquos owner and two othersAccording to the farmerrsquos family he had borrowed Rs 10000 from the finance company but the firm allegedly demanded Rs 70000 in repayment The family alleged that company employees confined and fatally assaulted him before hanging his body to make the death appear to be a suicideldquoStrict action must be taken against those responsible for the farmerrsquos deathrdquo Jarange saidWith PTI inputs