Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde was caught on camera allegedly distributing Rs 5 crore cash at a hotel in Thane's Virar, just a day before the assembly elections in Maharashtra. The incident was brought to light by rival party workers of the Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA) and Nallasopara MLA Kshitij Thakur, who found two diaries detailing the payments from Tawde. BVA chief Hitendra Thakur claimed that they received a tip from BJP workers themselves. Tawde denied any wrongdoing, stating that the meeting was misinterpreted by Thakur.
Vinod Tawde Accused of Distributing Cash During Maharashtra Elections
Background
Vinod Tawde is a prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Minister of Higher and Technical Education in the Maharashtra government. During the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Tawde was accused of distributing cash payments to party workers.
Allegations
On October 20, 2019, a day before the elections, Tawde was allegedly caught on camera distributing Rs 5 crore in cash at a hotel in Thane's Virar. The incident was brought to light by rival party workers of the Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi (BVA) and Nallasopara MLA Kshitij Thakur, who found two diaries detailing the payments from Tawde.
BVA Claims
BVA chief Hitendra Thakur claimed that they received a tip from BJP workers themselves. The diaries reportedly contained details of payments ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh, allegedly made to around 100 BJP workers.
Tawde's Denial
Tawde denied any wrongdoing, stating that the meeting was misinterpreted by Thakur. He claimed that the cash was meant for party expenses and that the meeting was held to discuss election strategies.
Investigation
The Thane police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Tawde and others based on the complaint by Thakur. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also began investigating the case, suspecting money laundering.
Top 5 FAQs and Answers
Q1: What were the allegations against Vinod Tawde? A1: Tawde was accused of distributing Rs 5 crore in cash to BJP workers a day before the Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Q2: Who made the allegations? A2: The allegations were made by rival party workers of the Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi (BVA) and Nallasopara MLA Kshitij Thakur.
Q3: Did Tawde admit to the allegations? A3: No, Tawde denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the meeting was misinterpreted.
Q4: What is the status of the investigation? A4: The Thane police and the Enforcement Directorate are investigating the case.
Q5: What is the potential punishment for Tawde if found guilty? A5: If convicted, Tawde could face charges of bribery, corruption, and money laundering, which carry significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines.
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