Mumbai: Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday claimed that NCP chief Sharad Pawar was not briefed properly on Home Minister Anil Deshmukh’s whereabouts after he was tested COVID-19 positive.
The BJP leader, who addressed a press conference in Mumbai, also claimed that the MVA government in the state has not acted on an “incriminating” state intelligence department report containing audio intercepts of large scale corruption in police transfers and postings.
“As per police records of VIP movement, Anil Deshmukh went to Sahyadri Guest House in Mumbai on February 17 and Mantralaya on February 24,” said Fadnavis, who is also the leader of Opposition in the state Assembly.
“Deshmukh was in home quarantine from February 15-27 but met officers and was not in isolation. I feel Pawar Sahab was not briefed properly yesterday,” Fadnavis said.
Pawar had on Monday told reporters that Deshmukh was recuperating from COVID-19 infection during the period former police commissioner Param Bir Singh has claimed that he was indulging in “extortion activities” through police officers.
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.
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.
Also read: MVA partners shield Home Minister Deshmukh, say Covid put him out of action through February
I don’t see any true outcome coming out. Truth is distortion and more distortion and the government continues with one biggest binding force for all allies. HAFTA VASOOLI.