Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh has accused a person linked to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Devendra Fadnavis of asking him to provide false affidavits against key figures of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Deshmukh claims the person told him to do so in order to avoid facing legal action himself. However, Fadnavis has denied the allegation and stated that he has evidence to prove Deshmukh's involvement in the Rs 100 crore extortion case.
Political Turmoil in Maharashtra: BJP-NCP Clash over False Affidavit Allegations
A political storm has erupted in Maharashtra, with former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) accusing a person linked to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis of seeking false affidavits from him. The allegations have further escalated tensions between the two parties, who are currently sharing power in the state.
Background
The allegations stem from the Rs 100 crore extortion case against Deshmukh, who resigned from his position in April 2021 after the Bombay High Court ordered a preliminary inquiry into corruption charges. Deshmukh claims that the person linked to Fadnavis approached him and offered to help him avoid legal action if he provided false affidavits against key members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, an alliance of the NCP, Shiv Sena, and Congress.
Deshmukh's Allegations
Deshmukh has alleged that the person approached him in January 2022 and told him that he needed the false affidavits to protect himself from a potential arrest in the extortion case. Deshmukh claims that he refused to cooperate and reported the incident to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.
Fadnavis' Denial
Fadnavis has strongly denied Deshmukh's allegations, stating that he has evidence to prove Deshmukh's involvement in the extortion case. He has accused Deshmukh of trying to divert attention from the corruption charges against him.
Political Fallout
The allegations have further deepened the divide between the BJP and NCP. NCP leader Sharad Pawar has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter, while Fadnavis has asked Deshmukh to provide evidence to support his claims. The allegations have also cast a shadow over the MVA government, as Deshmukh was a prominent member before his resignation.
Top 5 FAQs
1. Who is Anil Deshmukh? Anil Deshmukh is a former Maharashtra Home Minister from the Nationalist Congress Party.
2. What are the allegations against him? Deshmukh is accused of involvement in a Rs 100 crore extortion case and allegedly seeking false affidavits against key figures in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
3. Who is Devendra Fadnavis? Devendra Fadnavis is a former Maharashtra Chief Minister from the Bharatiya Janata Party.
4. What is his role in the allegations? Deshmukh has accused a person linked to Fadnavis of asking him to provide false affidavits. Fadnavis denies the allegations.
5. What is the current status of the allegations? The allegations are being investigated by the Maharashtra government. Both Deshmukh and Fadnavis have made public statements about the matter.
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