NAGPUR: Former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh alleged Wednesday that deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis pressured him to file false affidavits against key Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) functionaries three years ago in an attempt to topple the coalition govt.
Deshmukh, a senior NCP (Sharad Pawar) member, said: “I was promised freedom from ED and CBI investigations in return.The offer came from Fadnavis’s intermediary, and I personally spoke to him on phone. I will disclose every detail at an appropriate time.” He added, “Fadnavis’s aide visited me multiple times, facilitating phone conversations between us. Once, Fadnavis told me he was sending documents for review. I was told if accusing Ajit Pawar wasn’t possible, I should speak out against the Thackerays and Anil Parab (Shiv Sena).”
Deshmukh linked his allegations to the controversy involving former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who accused the former minister of a Rs 100-crore extortion scheme. He alleged Fadnavis orchestrated Singh’s accusations against him.
Fadnavis refuted the allegations, saying Deshmukh’s own party members had incriminating audio-visual evidence against him. “If false accusations continue to be levelled against me, I will have no choice but to make this evidence public,” he said.
Deshmukh, a senior NCP (Sharad Pawar) member, said: “I was promised freedom from ED and CBI investigations in return.The offer came from Fadnavis’s intermediary, and I personally spoke to him on phone. I will disclose every detail at an appropriate time.” He added, “Fadnavis’s aide visited me multiple times, facilitating phone conversations between us. Once, Fadnavis told me he was sending documents for review. I was told if accusing Ajit Pawar wasn’t possible, I should speak out against the Thackerays and Anil Parab (Shiv Sena).”
Deshmukh linked his allegations to the controversy involving former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh, who accused the former minister of a Rs 100-crore extortion scheme. He alleged Fadnavis orchestrated Singh’s accusations against him.
Fadnavis refuted the allegations, saying Deshmukh’s own party members had incriminating audio-visual evidence against him. “If false accusations continue to be levelled against me, I will have no choice but to make this evidence public,” he said.