Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole Responds to Allegations Against Anil Deshmukh

Mumbai, Maharashtra - Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has described the recent allegations against NCP-SCP leader Anil Deshmukh as a "drama" and promised an investigation if the Maha Vikas Aghadi forms the government. Patole criticized Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis for withholding evidence and suggested that the current government is trying to scare people.

Patole stated, "I don't want to get into that, our question is that this drama is going on in the state for a while now. Home Minister of the state, Devendra Fadnavis says that I have both audio and video. I have challenged him that he is on a constitutional post and hence you don't have this right to keep it hidden. The people have the right to know the reality but he will not say anything as he wants to scare only. I think their time is up, in a few days Maha Vikas Aghadi government will be formed, then we will investigate into it and everything will be clear."

Party's Working President and MP Supriya Sule questioned the timing of the allegations, especially with elections approaching. She said, "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 elections are coming up? Jayant Patil is a force to reckon and the BJP is fearful of him...Anything is possible. Either activate I-T, CBI or ED or do something like this. I am not surprised."

Anil Deshmukh, addressing a press conference, dismissed the allegations made by dismissed Mumbai Assistant Police Inspector Sachin Waze. Deshmukh claimed that Waze, who has a criminal background, is being used by Devendra Fadnavis. Deshmukh said, "5-6 days back, I had levelled allegations against Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, that 3 years ago he attempted to send the then CM Uddhav Thackeray to jail, attempted to send Aaditya Thackeray to jail and came to me with an affidavit for me to level allegations against them so that they go to jail. I revealed this to the public. Now, this is a new tactic by Devendra Fadnavis. He has caught Sachin Waze and he is using him."

Deshmukh further added, "The High Court had said about Sachin Waze that he is a man with a criminal background, he has been arrested on two murder charges, and he is still lodged in jail. Such a man with a criminal background can't be believed, and his statement can't be trusted--the Bombay High Court judgement states the same. Did Devendra Fadnavis get only such a man, one with a criminal background? Sachin Waze says what Devendra Fadnavis tells him."

Sachin Waze had earlier claimed that he had written a letter to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, providing evidence of alleged bribes taken by Anil Deshmukh. Waze is also accused in the 2021 Antilia bomb scare and Mansukh Hiren murder case. The CBI had registered a corruption case against Deshmukh following allegations that he had directed police officials to collect Rs 100 crore per month from bar owners. Deshmukh was later arrested in the case before securing bail.