News Analysis India

Tag: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis

  • Have over 6 GB of call data on illegal transfer of cops: Devendra Fadnavis

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed the Maha Vikas Agadi (MVA) government in the state did not act on an “incriminating” state intelligence department report containing audio intercepts of a “large scale corruption” in police transfers and postings, and said he would seek a probe by the CBI.

    Fadnavis said he had “6.3 GB data” of the calls intercepted by then Commissioner of Intelligence Rashmi Shukla with due permissions, where names of several key police officers were discussed.

    All these phone calls were recorded by Shukla with due permission from the state government but despite the submission of the report to the Chief Minister (Uddhav Thackeray) in August, 2020, no action was taken on the report, the BJP leader said.

    “I am demanding a CBI probe in this matter,” he added.

    Big breaking: IPS officer Rashmi Shukla illegally tapping 30 politicians phones when Maha Vikas Aghadi govt formation was taking place. She was habitually doing phone tapping even after formation of govt & working as BJP agent so shifted from intelligence dept@NewIndianXpress
    — Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) March 23, 2021

    Hitting back at Fadnavis, the NCP, which is one of the constituents in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government, said the former was “misguiding” people.

    “The report of then commissioner of Intelligence, Rashmi Shukla, has mentioned names of senior police officers, IPS officials, and politicians among others. It is a very sensitive information thus I am not disclosing the details of it currently,” Fadnavis told reporters here.

    The Leader of Opposition also said that when he was chief minister of state, a tip-off was received in 2017 by some police officers about a meeting underway in a hotel regarding transfer of police officials.

    “It was a part of racket and completely illegal hence a raid was conducted and arrests were made,” said Fadnavis, who had held Home portfolio when he was chief minister.

    “Commissioner of Intelligence, Rashmi Shukla, had came to know about a similar activity and sought proper permissions from then ACS (additional Chief Secretary), Home, and intercepted phone calls of several police officials and politicians,” the BJP leader said

    He said Shukla then submitted the reporter to her Director General (of police) who sent it to Sitaram Kunte, then ACS, Home, on August 26, 2020.

    Kunte is currently chief secretary of Maharashtra.

    “The conversation in the 6.3 GB data is all about home and police department alone. All the officials whose phone calls were recorded got the posts they lobbied for. This proves that calls intercepted by Shukla had important details,” Fadnavis claimed.

    Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, Pravin Darekar, demanded that the current situation in Maharashtra is fit for imposition of President”s Rule.

    “The way this government is functioning, it is leading us to a chaotic state,” he said.

    Hitting back, NCP spokesperson and state minister Nawab Malik rejected Fadnavis” claims terming them as “another attempt to bring down the MVA government”.

    “The BJP cannot live without power. But they will not able to topple this government like in Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and some other states. BJP”s state leadership is thus seeking the Centre”s help to malign the image of the MVA government and to bring it down,” he said.

    On Fadnavis” allegations that some police officials managed their postings, Malik said, “I have the details of Rashmi Shukla”s report with me. She had mentioned telephonic conversations between some police officials who had paid bribes to get key posts, but that didn”t happen”.

    Malik accused Fadnavis of “lying and misguiding” people over the contents of Shukla”s report.

    “The MVA government enjoys satisfactory majority in the Assembly. Nobody can destabilise it,” he said.

    To a query on the “6.3 GB data” which Fadnavis claimed to be in possession, Malik said, “The BJP seems to be more concerned about data than ”aata” (food for poor). This information given by Fadnavis is a part of larger conspiracy. He has been now exposed completely”.

    Malik said no senior police officer is transferred without the approval of the Police Establishment Board.

    “One person”s whim does not work here. Let Fadnavis share the data with anyone. It has been illegally collected by Rashmi Shukla, and if Fadnavis shares it with anyone, he would invite a legal action. I dare him to make the data public,” he said.

    Malik alleged that Shukla was acting as an agent of the BJP.

    “She prepared the call records illegally hence she was transferred as a punishment,” said the minister..

  • Allegations against Deshmukh: Sharad Pawar trying to save Maha govt, says Fadnavis

    By PTI
    NAGPUR: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in view of allegations of corruption levelled by former Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

    Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis contested Pawar’s assertion that neither chief minister Uddhav Thackeray nor Deshmukh was responsible for reinstating controversial police officer Sachin Waze in the Mumbai police force last year.

    Days after he was shunted as Mumbai police commissioner, Singh wrote a letter to the CM claiming Deshmukh, a senior NCP leader, had asked Sachin Waze and other police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

    “Waze was given important cases and also got key posts in the police department.

    Is it possible without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis questioned.

    The Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly also questioned Pawar’s statement that the latter would suggest the CM to seek retired IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Singh.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    “As the architect of the MVA government (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress), Pawar is trying to save the government.

    Pawar’s press conference today is an attempt to save the government.

    The presser is just a window dressing.

    Actually, it is an attempt to move away from truth,” Fadnavis alleged.

    He reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations raised by Singh.

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh.

    But how is it possible that Waze was given important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” “Pawar should say that Waze was reinstated on the instructions of the CM and the home minister, and with their blessings, he was given key cases and postings,” the former chief minister claimed.

    Fadnavis also said how could Ribeiro, who retired 15 years ago, can conduct an “inquiry of Param Bir Singh and the home minister.

    Will he have that authority and can he conduct a fair probe? Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in Nagpur demanding resignation of Deshmukh over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was also organised by workers of the BJP Yuva Morcha outside the residence of Deshmukh here.

    Meanwhile, Fadnavis claimed that allegations were raised earlier against state Home department by a top police officer.

    “Param Bir Singh is not the first person to raise such allegations.

    Earlier, a report was submitted by then Maharashtra DGP Subodh Jaiswal about a racket involving touts in transferring police officials in exchange of money, but the state government didn’t take any action on that report.

    Jaiswal had submitted the report containing full transcript to the chief minister and the home minister via the then commissioner of Intelligence,” he said.

    Subsequently, Jaiswal opted out of an important posting as the DGP and went on a Central deputation because the state government did not initiate any inquiry on the report submitted by him, Fadnavis said, adding that rather action was taken against the then state “Commissioner of Intelligence” Rashmi Shukla.

    “The current situation wouldn’t have arose had the state government acted on the report of Jaiswal and Shukla,” he said.

    Fadnavis also demanded that officials and other persons who had used vehicles that were found possession of Waze be investigated.