Anil Deshmukh, a former Maharashtra home minister and senior NCP (SP) leader, accused Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of engaging in political vengeance by making allegations against him with the help of sacked police officer Sachin Waze. Deshmukh claimed that Fadnavis was using Waze to level false accusations against him and challenged Fadnavis to make the Justice Chandiwal Commission report public, where he had allegedly been given a clean chit.
According to Deshmukh, the retired Justice Chandiwal conducted an 11-month inquiry into the allegations made by former Mumbai commissioner Parambir Singh and Sachin Waze. Deshmukh stated that both Singh and Waze had confirmed that neither he nor his personal assistant had asked for money or offered any bribes. Despite this, Waze reiterated bribery allegations against Deshmukh, leading to questions about the timing of these accusations.
Deshmukh had resigned as home minister in 2021 after Param Bir Singh accused him of orchestrating a scheme to extort money from bars and restaurants in Mumbai. Waze, who was involved in planting gelatin sticks outside Mukesh Ambani’s residence and was linked to a murder case, claimed that he had paid money to Deshmukh’s associates on the latter’s orders. Waze is currently in Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai.
Deshmukh criticized Fadnavis for delaying the release of the Justice Chandiwal Commission report and challenged him to make the findings public. He mentioned that Parambir Singh did not cooperate with the commission despite multiple summons and only submitted an affidavit with no evidence against Deshmukh. Despite Deshmukh’s requests, the report has not been made public or presented before the state legislature.
In response to Deshmukh’s allegations, BJP spokesperson Ram Kulkarni dismissed them as childish and mentioned that the CBI has evidence of Deshmukh’s wrongdoings. Kulkarni questioned why Waze was reinstated in the police force during the Maha Vikas Aghadi regime and why Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray defended him amidst the bribery allegations. He emphasized that Deshmukh would have to face legal consequences based on the evidence gathered by the CBI.
Overall, the situation between Deshmukh, Fadnavis, and Waze highlights the complex political landscape in Maharashtra, where accusations and counter-accusations are being made. The demand for transparency and accountability in the release of the Justice Chandiwal Commission report adds another layer of intrigue to this ongoing saga. It remains to be seen how this political drama will unfold and whether the truth behind these allegations will be revealed to the public.
