Raut Accuses State Leaders of Corruption, Claims Contractor Kickbacks

Sanjay Raut accused the Maharashtra government of deep‑rooted corruption in a fiery statement on Monday. He alleged that senior officials, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, routinely receive large commissions from contractors. Raut said that before any work begins, contractors already forward 30‑35% of the project’s advance as “kickback” money.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said the “Missing Link” between Mumbai and Pune is a symptom of a larger problem: a system that rewards middlemen and leaves taxpayers to foot the bill. He linked the alleged misappropriation to the broader “contractor raj” that has, according to him, taken over the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation for the past four and a half years.

Raut also referenced past scandals, such as the Sweet Water River cleanup, describing it as a “massive fraud” benefitting a handful of contractors who allegedly fund the ruling party.