"If you have guts, then put truth in front of people": Nana Patole challenged Fadnavis over Anil Deshmukh's allegation

Jul 29, 2024

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 29 : Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole challenged Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to put forth the truth in front of the people in connection to the allegation made by former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.
Deshmukh alleged that Fadnavis had asked him to implicate Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray. Deshmukh had been arrested by the ED in 2021 in an alleged money laundering case and had spent several months in jail.
"When Anil Deshmukh came out of jail, he had said that there was pressure on him, these (BJP) people had sent affidavits to make false allegations against Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. When he refused, he had to go to jail, all this is on record. Two days ago, Devendra Fadnavis came in front of the media and said that he has audio and video, does an experienced state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis want to scare his opponents during the election?," Patole questioned.
The Congress leader asked Fadnavis to take action against Deshmukh if he's the accused.
"If you have the guts, then put the truth in front of the people, if the accused is Anil Deshmukh, then take action against him. The confusion that has been created in front of the state needs to be clear," he said.
Earlier, NCP-SP leader Anil Deshmukh had accused Devendra Fadnavis of asking him to write four affidavits against Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Ajit Pawar and Anil Parab.
He said, "Three years ago Devendra Fadnavis sent a man to me and asked me to write four affidavits. I was asked to make written allegations against Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Ajit Pawar, and Anil Parab. Devendra Fadnavis sent the affidavits and asked me to sign them. I was told that if I did this, then neither ED nor CBI would come after me. "
Further, Deshmukh added that the ED and CBI were sent after him because he decided not to make any false allegations.
"I was pressurized but I clearly said that even if I have to go to jail for life, I will not make false allegations. I did not bow down and that is why ED and CBI were sent after me. I was asked to give a false affidavit that Aaditya Thackeray raped Disha Salian and threw her from the balcony," he said.
Meanwhile, Fadnavis on Wednesday denied the allegations saying that he wouldn't spare anyone making personal allegations against him.
Speaking to ANI, Devendra Fadnavis said that the FIR against Deshmukh was registered by the CBI after clear orders by the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. He further said that Deshmukh had made personal allegations against him.
"The FIR against Anil Deshmukh Was registered by CBI after clear orders by the Chief Justice of Bombay HC and at that time it was not even our government in the state. Anil Deshmukh has been making personal allegations against me for a long time now. Usually, I don't go behind anyone but if someone comes for me, in response I don't spare that individual," he said.
Further, Fadnavis added "I have several audio/videos provided by Anil Deshmukh's party-men in which he is heard saying a lot about Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar saheb. When the time comes, will release those."