Manoj Jarange says audio clip is genuine, urges Fadnavis and Shinde to probe Rs 500 crore allegations

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday maintained that the controversial audio clip alleging a Rs 500 crore payment to him was genuine and urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure that everyone involved was held accountableJarange also called for Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam to be questioned about the recording asking how he obtained it and why it surfaced only now if it dated back to October 14 2024 ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly electionsThe clip released by Jarange on Thursday purportedly contains a conversation in which a woman claims that Rs 500 crore was delivered to the activist through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde son of the deputy chief minister The authenticity of the recording has not been independently established and the allegations surrounding the purported payment remain unverifiedJarange calls for thorough investigationAmid the political controversy Jarange said Fadnavis and Shinde should get to the bottom of the matter rather than allow the allegations to remain unresolvedThose from the camps of Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis are encouraging people to defame us he saidThe activist who has denied accepting money alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched against him because he had been raising issues concerning farmers and ordinary citizensWe have revealed the things hidden behind the curtain In fact we have torn the curtain Leaders of all political parties have woken up because of this which is important for me I will be going to the root of this case he saidJarange added that both Fadnavis and Shinde should ensure that no one involved in the controversy was sparedQuestions Ramdas Kadam over recordingJarange questioned how Kadam came into possession of the audio clip and why it had been made public only recently despite allegedly dating back to October 2024The activist also alleged that Kadam possessed the complete recording but had disclosed only the portion in which Shrikant Shinde was mentioned He urged the chief minister and his deputy to question the Shiv Sena leader about the source of the audioKadam had earlier accused Jarange of colluding with a section of the BJP to politically finish Shinde adding to tensions between the BJP and the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena both constituents of the ruling Mahayuti allianceJarange alleges conspiracy to weaken Maratha agitationJarange claimed that the controversy was part of an effort to damage his reputation and undermine the Maratha reservation movement He alleged that party funds had been used in attempts to defame himThe activist said the recording pointed to a conspiracy to weaken the agitation which has been a major political issue in Maharashtra He has maintained that he did not accept any money allegedly routed through Shrikant ShindeIn the purported recording speakers are allegedly heard discussing ways to counter Jaranges political influence in the Marathwada region ahead of the 2024 Assembly elections One speaker purportedly refers to the potential electoral impact of the activists campaign portraying the BJP as antiMarathaFadnavis orders forensic examinationFadnavis on Friday ordered a forensic investigation into the recording saying the examination would help establish its authenticity and the identities of those heard speakingThe controversy has triggered competing allegations among leaders of the BJP and Shiv Sena BJP leaders have accused Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut of orchestrating an AIgenerated recording while Raut has alleged that a BJP legislator leaked the clipEknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde have denied that any money was routed to Jarange through them Shrikant Shinde has also rejected the allegation that he received the purported amountWith inputs from PTI