News Analysis India

Tag: Devendra Fadnavis

  • ‘Friendship between Fadnavis and Wankhede helped criminals to flourish in Maharashtra’: Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Wednesday accused former state chief minister Devendra Fadnavis of sweeping under the carpet a case of seized fake notes and resorting to “criminalisation of politics” by appointing people with criminal background on government boards.

    Continuing his tirade against the leader of the opposition, Malik in a press conference said there are “more bombs to be dropped” in coming days and he will spill the beans on this issue against the BJP.

    There was no immediate reaction from BJP leader Fadnavis on the fresh charges levelled by Malik.

    Malik on Tuesday said he would drop a “hydrogen bomb” and reveal Fadnavis’ alleged underworld links.

    Fadnavis had on Tuesday alleged a dubious land deal involving Malik, his family members and two convicts of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case over a decade ago, a charge refuted by the minister.

    On Wednesday, the NCP minister said while fake notes were seized in other states after demonetisation on November 8 2016, there was not a single such instance in Maharashtra.

    At that time Fadnavis was the chief minister of the state.

    Malik said on October 8, 2017, the Department of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized fake notes worth Rs 14.56 crore from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC).

    “But Devendra Fadnavis helped sweep the case under the carpet. The seized amount was later shown with a value of Rs 8.8 lakhs,” Malik alleged, questioning why the case was not handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

    “Incidentally, Sameer Wankhade (the Narcotics Control Bureau officer against whom Malik has levelled several serious allegations) was the DRI’s joint director at that time,” he added.

    Malik further said one Imran Alam Sheikh was arrested in this case.

    Later, his brother Haji Arfat Sheikh was made the chairman of the state minority commission, the minister claimed.

    He alleged that Fadnavis appointed people with criminal background on several state boards.

    He said one Munna Yadav from Nagpur was made the chairman of the Maharashtra Construction Workers Welfare Board despite criminal charges like murder registered against him.

    Malik also alleged that during Fadnavis sheltered an individual whose second wife was a Bangladeshi.

    When the Malad police tried investigating the case, they was pressured.

    “Fadnavis resorted to criminalisation of politics by appointing people with criminal background on government posts,” the minister alleged.

    Malik and Fadnavis have been targeting each other with charges of underworld links.

    Both have denied any links with the underworld.

    On Tuesday, Fadnavis said Malik and his family members were part of a company which purchased land in Kurla area of Mumbai at a very low rate by making some fictitious documents.

    Malik had last week sought to link the BJP with an alleged narcotics dealer by tweeting the latter’s photograph with the former chief minister and his wife Amruta Fadnavis.

    The former CM had then said he will make revelations about Malik’s “underworld links” after Diwali and also share the “documents and proofs” of the same with Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar.

  • Nawab Malik’s kin bought land from people with underworld links: Ex-Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday alleged that state minister Nawab Malik and his family members entered into land deals with people associated with the underworld.

    Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis also claimed he did not have this information earlier (when he was the state’s chief minister). The BJP leader said had he found this previously, he would have exposed NCP leader Malik earlier.

    Notably, Malik earlier this month sought to link the BJP with an alleged narcotics dealer by tweeting the latter’s photograph with the former chief minister’s wife Amruta Fadnavis. Malik had also posted a similar photograph of Devendra Fadnavis with alleged the drug dealer.

    The former CM had then said he will make revelations about Malik’s “underworld links” after Diwali and also share the same with NCP president Sharad Pawar.

    ALSO READ| Nawab Malik confirmed that MVA Ministers have links with drug mafias: Mohit Kamoj

    On Tuesday, Fadnavis said, “Nawab Malik and his family members were part of a company which purchased land in Kurla (area of Mumbai) at a very low rate by making some fictitious documents. There are four such land purchase deals where I can firmly say that Malik has entered into land deals with the underworld.”

    He claimed the land was purchased from Sardar Shahwali Khan and Saleem Ishaq Patel, who were convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. “Why did you do business with the killers of Mumbaikars?” the BJP leader asked.

    “Another question arises that why did these two accused persons sell their land to Malik? They were about to get convicted under then TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act). As per that legal provision, all the properties of convicts get attached and come under government control. Did Malik help them to avoid such land on prime location from getting attached?” he asked.

    The LoP claimed Nawab Malik’s son Faraz Malik had signed the agreement documents of the Kurla land deal with Sardar Shahwali Khan and Saleem Ishaq Patel. “I did not have this information earlier (during chief ministerial tenure). Had I found it, I would have exposed him (Nawab Malik) earlier. I will submit these documents to appropriate authorities like the CBI, ED or NIA. I will also share a copy of it with NCP chief Sharad Pawar,” he said.

    Nawab Malik has since last month levelled a series of allegations against Narcotics Control Bureau’s (NCB) Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede after he led a raid on a cruise ship, following which actor Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and some others were arrested.

    The NCP leader’s son-in-law Sameer Khan was also arrested by the NCB earlier this year in an alleged drugs case and was later granted bail by a court. On November 1, Devendra Fadnavis had said Malik’s attack on the NCB was an attempt to put pressure on officials of the anti-drugs agency so that the case against his son-in-law is weakened.

  • ‘Why didn’t you initiate probe against me?’ Nawab Malik hits back at Fadnavis over Sameer Wankhede row

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Intensifying his attack on Sameer Wankhede, Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Tuesday accused Narcotics Control Bureau zonal director of extorting crores and using uber expensive clothes beyond the reach of an honest and an upright officer.

    The NCP spokesperson also hit out at former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, rubbishing the claim that he has links with the underworld.

    “If that was the case, why was no probe initiated against me when you (Fadnavis) were the CM,” he added.

    Malik questioned Fadnavis for not acting against him despite being the chief minister of the state for five years.

    After Malik sought to link Fadnavis and his banker-singer wife Amruta with an alleged drug peddler, the BJP leader on Monday said he would expose his underworld links after Diwali.

    On Wankhede, Malik claimed the officer wore a trouser worth a lakh, a shirt costing over Rs 70,000 and watches worth Rs 25-50 lakh.

    “How can an honest and upright officer claim to afford such expensive clothes,” he said.

    “He (Wankhede) extorted crores by wrongly framing people,” Malik said, adding the NCB official had a private army to do the job.

    Malik claimed that Wankhede implicated people in fake cases.

    Malik also claimed that since the last 15 days, there are three containers with drugs lying at the JNPT.

    He questioned why no action has been taken by the Department of Revenue Intelligence on this.

  • ‘Bigde Nawab’: Fadnavis family says Malik has link with Dawood

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  NCP spokesperson and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Monday alleged that former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife had links with a drug peddler arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in June in Delhi.

    Tweeting a photo of Amruta and Devendra Fadnavis with the alleged peddler, Jaideep Rana, Malik tweeted, “Let’s have a discussion of links between BJP and drug peddler.” Rana, he alleged, financed a video album of Amruta Fadnavis.

    Hitting back, Amruta Fadnavis said it was the River March NGO that had roped in the man in question.

    She called for converting the “bigde Nawab energy into Sudhre Nawab” and said questions should be asked to “bigde Nawab’s “boss or super boss”. Asserting that she is not a politician, Amruta said she is a social activist.”

    “Sachin Gupta and Jaideep Rana, the director and assistant made a song on rejuvenation of rivers for Isha Foundation and the entire Bollywood sang for it. I and even Devendra ji lent our voice.”

    “The River March NGO liked their work for a song exclusively for Mumbai. Sachin Gupta said he will do it for free. Everyone did it for free. Even the dabbawalas and the Koli community participated in it,” Armuta told reporters.

    Earlier in the day, in a series of tweets, Malik, who has been targeting the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after it raided a cruise ship last month and claimed to have seized drugs onboard, posted a photograph of Amruta Fadnavis with an alleged drug peddler.

    He also posted a similar photograph of Devendra Fadnavis with the alleged drug dealer.

    In another tweet, the minister said the person was Jaideep Rana.

    Amruta said after she moved to Mumbai, she came in touch with several NGOs including the River March and started working for the rejuvenation of Poisar, Mithi, Dahisar and Oshiwara rivers.

    “I visited every river, Dahisar, Mithi, Oshiwara and Poisar and saw the roadblocks. I supported the River March and public movement,” she said.

    Amruta said she pursued the matter with Fadnavis “not as a wife, but as a social activist”.

    “Convert the Bigde Nawab energy into Sudhre Nawab. Only this can take Maharashtra ahead. You have to ask these questions to this ‘bigde’ Nawab or his boss or his super boss,” she said hitting out at Malik.

    “Whatever charges you level against me, and on Deven (Fadnavis), we are two separate identities. I am a thorough social worker, a banker and a singer. I maintain that identity. If anyone attacks me, I will not leave them. Be a man and don’t target Devendra ji through me,” she added.

    Fadnavis, however, said Malik’s tweet reflected his mentality and claimed that he will burst a bomb after Diwali by making revelations about the minister’s underworld links, which he will also share with NCP president Sharad Pawar.

    The Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly also said it was the creative team of River March that roped in people, including Rana, for making the song.

    (With PTI Inputs)

  • Nawab Malik tweets pics of Devendra Fadnavis with alleged drug peddler; ex-CM says will expose minister

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik on Monday sought to link the BJP with an alleged narcotics dealer by tweeting the latter’s photograph with former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ wife Amruta Fadnavis.

    Devendra Fadnavis, however, said Malik’s tweet reflected his mentality and claimed that he will burst a bomb after Diwali by making revelations about the minister’s underworld links, which he will also share with NCP president Sharad Pawar.

    In a series of tweets, Malik, who has been targeting the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) after it raided a cruise ship last month and claimed to have seized drugs onboard, posted a photograph of Amruta Fadnavis with an alleged drug peddler.

    He also posted a similar photograph of Devendra Fadnavis with alleged the drug dealer.

    Let’s have a discussion of links between BJP and drug peddler, Malik tweeted, referring to the photograph of Amruta Fadnavis with the person. In another tweet, the minister said the person was Jaideep Rana.

    Photograph of Jaideep Rana with Ex Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/Sxo1diTalX
    — Nawab Malik نواب ملک नवाब मलिक (@nawabmalikncp) November 1, 2021
    Later, talking to reporters, Devendra Fadnavis said the creative team of River March, an organisation working for the conservation of rivers in Mumbai, had hired this person four years ago. Fadnavis was then the chief minister of the state.

    The former CM said he and his wife were associated with the cause of river rejuvenation.

    The pictures were clicked during the shooting of a theme song. There are photos along with the team, not only with my wife, but also with me. But, Nawab Malik consciously shared the photograph of my wife. This reflects his mentality, the leader of opposition in the state Assembly said.

    Those people who have been photographed were brought by the ‘River March’ (organisation). There are no links of these people with me or my wife. he said.

    Amruta Fadnavis, a banker by profession who also released her singing album in the past, has been a vocal critic of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi in the state (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress), and has often taken to Twitter to launch attacks on the state government.

    ​ALSO READ | My fight against Wankhede’s fraud, says Nawab Malik as Uddhav government mulls probe against NCB official

    “The cracker just before the Diwali was a damp squib and it gives an impression that Malik has made some big revelation, Devendra Fadnavis said, referring to the photograph of his wife with the alleged drug peddler. I don’t stay in a house of glass, and those having links with the underworld and drugs should not talk to me. I will furnish all the proof after Diwali. Law will take its own course, the senior BJP leader said. Just after the former CM’s press conference, Malik tweeted, We are ready.

    Devendra Fadnavis also said Malik’s attack on the NCB is an attempt to put pressure on officials of the anti-drugs agency so that the case against the NCP leader’s son-in-law is weakened.

    Malik’s son-in-law Sameer Khan was arrested by the NCB earlier this year in a drugs case and was later granted bail by a court.

    Devendra Fadnavis said Malik referred to the BJP’s drug connection .

    He said if one goes by that logic, then the entire NCP can be termed as a drug mafia , as Malik’s son-in-law was arrested by the NCB in an alleged drugs case, but he would not label the Sharad Pawar-led party with such terms.

    If a photo of an unrelated man (alleged drug peddler) surfaces and makes one a drug mafia, then then what should one call a party when drug is seized, the BJP leader said, referring to the arrest of Sameer Khan by the NCB. 

  • Gadkari wanted to teach a lesson to Fadnavis, says Congress leader; Union minister rubbishes claim

    By PTI

    NANDED: Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari wanted to “teach a lesson” to his party colleague Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra minister Vijay Wadettiwar claimed during an election rally in the state on Thursday.

    While the Congress leader implied that Gadkari was talking about Fadnavis, Gadkari himself denied that he had ever said anything against the former chief minister.

    Wadettiwar was campaigning for Congress candidate Jitesh Antapurkar for byelection to Deglur Assembly constituency in central Maharashtra’s Nanded district.

    “Roads in Nanded will be better now as the Public Works Department Minister (Ashok Chavan) is from Nanded. A few days ago, a meeting was held with Union Minister for Roads and Transport Nitin Gadkari where he agreed to give funds for projects in the state,” he said during the rally.

    People in Nagpur know that there are two big “faces” (leaders) in that city, that is, Gadkari and Fadnavis, and the two do not get along, he further said.

    “Gadkari said into the ear (during the meeting) that he wanted to teach a lesson to him. And he taught a lesson,” Wadettiwar said, without specifying who was “him”.

    But in a statement issued in Nagpur through his personal assistant, Gadkari said he never spoke against Fadnavis.

    “I had never said anything to Vijay Wadettiwar in secret. He should not make such irresponsible, false and baseless statements and indulge in mischievous politics,” he said.

    “Devendra Fadnavis is like my younger brother. Besides, he is an important leader of my party. Speaking ill of each other is the culture of Congress,” Gadkari added.

    Maharashtra progressed during Fadnavis’ tenure as chief minister and he was doing excellent work as the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly now, the BJP leader added.

    Congress leaders have been sidelined in the coalition government in Maharashtra which includes the Shiv Sena and NCP, and hence they are frustrated and making such statements to sow confusion, he said.

  • I insisted that Uddhav become CM of Maharashtra when MVA was formed: Pawar’s snipe at Fadnavis

    Sharad Pawar reiterated his allegations that the Centre was misusing various agencies to destabilise the tripartite government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress in Maharashtra.

  • I feel like common man, not CM: Uddhav Thackeray takes a dig at Devendra Fadnavis

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was at his sarcastic best as he mounted a scathing attack at former ally BJP and took potshots at his predecessor Devendra Fadnavis for his comment that he still felt like the CM. 

    “I pray to God that I should never feel I am the chief minister. I want to be known as your brother and family member. We have seen people who arrogantly said that they will again come as chief minister,” Thackeray said at his party Shiv Sena’s annual Dussehra rally in Mumbai. On Tuesday, Fadnavis had said that because of the people’s love, he did not feel he had ceased to be the CM.

    ALSO READ | Congrats: Sharad Pawar’s dig at Devendra Fadnavis over his ‘I still feel CM’ remarks

    Targeting the BJP, Thackeray said hunger for power was like ‘drug addiction’ and dared it to topple his government. “I was not interested in the chief ministerial post but I had given the word to Balasaheb Thackeray that one day, I will make a Shiv Sainik the chief minister of Maharashtra,” Thackeray said, adding that had fulfilled the promise.

    In his no-holds-barred attack, the Sena supremo said that Hindutva faced threat today not from outsiders from “neo-Hindus” who climbed the ladder of power using the ideology. Accusing the BJP of dividing people on the lines of caste and religion, he said, “They have adopted the British policy of divide and rule… so that they can get power and remain in power. Power is like a drug for them.”

    Referring to the NCB raids and arrests in Mumbai in Thackeray hit out at the “selective outrage” and alleged that “when it comes to Maharashtra, every small issue is blown out of proportion”. “They call Mumbai police mafia. What will you call UP Police then?” He asserted that the BJP had made no contribution to the freedom struggle and had no right to speak about Mahatma Gandhi or Veer Savarkar.

  • Congrats: Sharad Pawar’s dig at Devendra Fadnavis over his ‘I still feel CM’ remarks

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Taking a dig at senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, who had said that he still feels as chief minister of Maharashtra, NCP president Sharad Pawar on Wednesday said he lacked this trait even though he had served as CM for four times.

    Fadnavis hit back saying some leaders are unhappy over his achievements as a former chief minister who completed his full five-year term, unlike Pawar.

    “It’s good that the BJP leader still considers himself as the chief minister. I congratulate him. After being the chief minister for five years, Fadnavis still feels he is holding the post. I lacked this trait. I had served as chief minister (of Maharashtra) four times. But I don’t even remember,” Pawar told reporters in Mumbai.

    He also referred to Fadnavis’ famous “Me Punha Yein” (I will return) slogan which had become popular before the 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections.

    The slogan had become a subject of ridicule and inspired many mock-filled messages and WhatsApp memes taking a dig at the BJP leader.

    Fadnavis, while speaking at an event in Navi Mumbai, had said that the people of Maharashtra never made me feel that I am not the chief minister.

    “I still feel that I am chief minister as I have been roaming in the state over the last two years. The love and affection of people have not receded,” he had said.

    On Wednesday, he hit back at Pawar saying some leaders are unhappy over his achievements as a former chief minister.

    “Pawar never completed a full five-year term even though he had served as CM for four times,” Fadnavis said in Panaji.

    “People have not listened to my exact speech given in Navi Mumbai but are jumping on to react over the issue. The fact is that I am the only chief minister in the last 40 years who has completed his full five year term.

    Sharad Pawar also became chief minister of Maharashtra four times but he never completed a full five-year term.

    “These party leaders are unhappy because of my achievements. I am also happy in my current posting as Leader of Opposition,” he told reporters.

    Fadnavis became the chief minister of Maharashtra after the 2014 elections and went on to complete a full term, something which no chief minister of the state had managed in the previous three decades.

    After the Shiv Sena walked out of the alliance with the BJP after the 2019 polls, he forged a tie-up with a breakaway group of NCP MLAs led by Ajit Pawar and was sworn in as chief minister with Pawar as his deputy.

    But this government lasted only for three days for want of the numbers and was replaced by an alliance of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress, headed by Uddhav Thackeray.

    On a bandh observed in Maharashtra on Monday by the Shiv Sena, NCP, and Congress over the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Fadnavis said it was good that Pawar himself admitted how Shiv Sena succeeded in organising the shutdown by threatening the people.

    “An incident happened in Uttar Pradesh but here Maharashtra government used its own state machinery to make the bandh successful. Shiv Sena workers were openly threatening shop owners. It was a state-sponsored suppression due to which people got scared and remained in their homes,” he alleged.

    Fadnavis said he was happy that Pawar had admitted what happens when Shiv Sena gives a call for bandh and how it uses its force against the people to close down the business activities.

    Commenting on raids by CBI on the premises linked to former Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh who belongs to the NCP, he said, “CBI officials could visit Deshmukh’s home only because of the order issued by the Bombay High Court. The Maharashtra government has withdrawn its support to cooperate with the CBI when there are at least 80 different cases of corruption, bank frauds among others”.

    Fadnavis said the way Central agencies are treated in Maharashtra, it is highly objectionable.

  • No guardian for farmers, says Fadnavis after visiting rain-affected Nanded villages

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: Senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said his government had given insurance aid of Rs 500 crore per district to farmers affected by rains and flooding, while the situation today was such that cultivators were feeling as if they had no guardian in Maharashtra.

    He was speaking to reporters after visiting Chivli and Fulval villages in Nanded, some 260 kilometrres from here, during the day.

    “Rains have washed away land and destroyed crops. Earlier, we used to give crop insurance of Rs 400-500 crore per district. But now the situation is such that there is no guardian left for farmers. Loss assessment surveys have not been completed, there is no help by way of insurance and power connections are still not up,” he said.