Maharashtra minister denies BJP link to Jarange audio clip, seeks cyber investigation

Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar on Thursday termed an audio clip released by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange as "fake and fabricated", denied any BJP connection to the alleged conversation and called for a thorough investigation into its authenticity and circulation.

The clip purportedly refers to a payment of Rs 500 crore to Jarange. The activist had alleged a conspiracy to silence him and derail the Maratha reservation agitation, claiming the money was routed through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.

Speaking to reporters, Shelar said the recording had not been authenticated and appeared to have been manipulated using technology. He maintained that neither the BJP nor any of its senior or responsible leaders had any involvement in the alleged conversation.

"The clip is not genuine. We completely disagree with the conversation purportedly recorded in it. There is no connection between the BJP and this alleged conversation," Shelar said, calling for the truth to be established through a legal investigation.

Jarange released the audio clip at a press conference in Jalna. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had on Wednesday asked the activist to verify his claims and produce evidence.

After Jarange made the allegations public, ruling Shiv Sena leaders, including minister Uday Samant, claimed that the voices heard in the recording belonged to BJP leaders. Shelar rejected the assertion.

He said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should direct the police and cyber agencies to investigate the conversation, identify those involved and establish how the recording was created and circulated.

The inquiry should also determine who brought the clip to Jarange, how it reached him and why it was made public at this stage, he said.

Shelar cautioned against treating recordings circulating publicly as evidence without technical verification and supporting material.

"The people who made the clip public should have verified its authenticity before releasing it. Such recordings circulate in the market, but their authenticity has to be established. A thorough inquiry is necessary to ascertain how this clip emerged and how it reached those who made it public," he said.

The minister said the BJP supported an investigation into the matter and wanted the facts to be established through due legal process.

BJP's Maharashtra chief spokesperson Navnath Ban also demanded a detailed inquiry by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or a special task force constituted by the state Home Department.

Ban said advances in artificial intelligence had made it increasingly difficult to distinguish genuine recordings from fabricated ones, underscoring the need for an independent examination.

He said the alleged recording referred to Rs 500 crore and the Assembly elections held two years ago, and that the public deserved clarity on the allegations.

Since both Shinde and Jarange had denied the alleged transaction, Ban said, the government should investigate the matter and establish the facts instead of allowing unverified claims to circulate.

Shelar denies rift within Mahayuti

Shelar also sought to play down suggestions of differences within the ruling Mahayuti alliance following remarks by Shiv Sena leaders Uday Samant and Ramdas Kadam over the controversy.

The BJP would not accept attempts to cast aspersions on Shinde, whom Shelar described as a leader of the alliance, he said.

"If some of our allies have doubts or misunderstandings, we will sit together and resolve them. It would have been better had the statements been made after verifying the facts. There is no tension or divide within the Mahayuti," Shelar said.

He added that concerns among alliance partners could be addressed through discussions and that the BJP was willing to resolve any misunderstandings.

Shelar targets MNS, Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders

Reacting to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray's remarks and references to a documentary, Shelar alleged that the exercise was intended to malign the BJP.

He said those making such claims should produce evidence and cooperate with the police if they possessed documentary material to substantiate their allegations.

Shelar also criticised Congress leader Sachin Sawant over remarks related to the documentary, saying people should obtain adequate information before commenting or drawing conclusions while the police investigation was pending.

He further attacked Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut over his remarks, describing them as being of a low intellectual standard.