Former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Saturday claimed that the renewed bribery allegations against him by dismissed Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze are part of a new strategy by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Waze, currently incarcerated in Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai, is an accused in the ‘Antilia’ bomb scare and Thane businessman Mansukh Hiran murder cases.

As per media reports, Waze has reiterated his bribery allegations against Deshmukh. He also mentioned the Nationalist Congress Party-SP leader Jayant Patil. The controversy dates back to when former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh alleged that Deshmukh had instructed police officers to collect Rs 100 crore a month from bars and restaurants in the city. Following these allegations, Deshmukh resigned from his ministerial position in 2021. Waze had previously informed an inquiry commission that he had paid money to Deshmukh’s associates on the latter’s instructions.

Anil Deshmukh responded strongly to the new allegations, accusing Fadnavis of orchestrating this move. “What Sachin Waze spoke is a new move by Devendra Fadnavis, as a few days back, I had levelled allegations against Fadnavis about how he had three years back given a proposal to me to implicate Uddhav Thackeray and Aditya Thackeray,” Deshmukh said, as quoted by news agency PTI. He further accused Fadnavis of using a person with a criminal background to implicate him, referring to Waze’s criminal history.

Deshmukh also claimed that Fadnavis, as the opposition leader, had pressured him to sign affidavits against the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray, and Ajit Pawar, the Deputy CM in the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Fadnavis has denied these allegations and threatened to release audio-visual clips of Deshmukh, who countered by claiming possession of a pen drive containing serious allegations against the senior BJP leader.

Reacting to Waze’s claims, Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the Home Department, assured that a proper inquiry would be conducted. “I saw them (Sachin Waze’s allegations) only in the media. You are also showing that he has written a letter to me. I have not seen anything about that yet because I have been in Nagpur for the last two days. I will react after seeing if any such letter has come or not. But I want to tell you that whatever is coming out, we will do a proper investigation on it,” Fadnavis stated.

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Supriya Sule Questions Timing Of Waze’s Allegations, Milind Deora Questions Shiv Sena UBT

Adding to the political fray, NCP (SCP) MP Supriya Sule questioned the timing of Waze’s allegations, suggesting they are strategically timed ahead of the assembly elections in the state. “First of all, which Jayant Patil is he talking about? I have no idea. Why should we think that it is only about our Jayant Patil? Look at the timing. How come when there are elections round the corner, these kinds of allegations are coming up?” Sule told news agency ANI.

She added, “Jayant Patil is a force to reckon and the BJP is fearful of him.”

Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena party’s MP Milind Deora also weighed in, questioning the role of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Waze’s reinstatement and subsequent activities. “I want to ask Shiv Sena (UBT) three important questions. In 2008, Sachin Waze, a suspended police officer, joined Shiv Sena (UBT). Which leader made Sachin Waze join Shiv Sena (UBT)? When MVA was in power in Maharashtra, why was Sachin Waze, a suspended police officer, reinstated in the police force? When Sachin Waze was caught red-handed planting bombs outside India’s biggest industrialist’s home, why did the CM give him a clean chit?” Deora stated, expressing concern over the future of Mumbai and Maharashtra.

“I am concerned about the future of Mumbai and Maharashtra…Those who are found guilty in this issue must be given severe punishment…” he remarked.

#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora says, “I want to ask Shiv Sena (UBT) three important questions. In 2008, Sachin Waze a suspended police officer joined Shiv Sena (UBT). Which leader made Sachin Waze join Shiv Sena (UBT)? When MVA was in power in… pic.twitter.com/w8XfYuT7hS

— ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2024

Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe called for an investigation into how Waze, a jailed individual, was able to speak to the media, suggesting that officials responsible for facilitating this interaction should be immediately suspended. “It is clear who is making him (Waze) say all this. An investigation should be conducted into how Sachin Waze was allowed to speak to the media, as prisoners in custody are not permitted to communicate with the media. The police officers in whose custody Sachin Waze was should be immediately suspended,” Londhe demanded, as per PTI.