The Maharashtra government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe an alleged conspiracy to frame CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, and other Mahayuti leaders during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. According to reports, Satyanarayan Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police, Law & Order, Mumbai will head the SIT team.
The SIT has been asked to submit its report to the government in 30 days.
The move came after a businessman, Sanjay Punamiya, claimed the media has aired sting operations in which a former police officer, during a telephonic conversation, said the former Mumbai Police chief was preparing to get Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde arrested. The arrest, he claimed, would be linked to a case against him. Following the claims, BJP MLC Pravin Darekar demanded that a SIT be set up to investigate the conspiracy.
According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the state Home Department on Friday, the SIT will be led by Satyanarayan Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Mumbai Police.
The decision to form the SIT follows claims made by BJP leader Pravin Darekar in the Maharashtra Legislative Council during the winter session in December 2024. Darekar alleged that there was a plot to frame Fadnavis and Shinde and claimed to have audio recordings as evidence.
Fadnavis, who assumed office as Chief Minister for the third time after the Mahayuti coalition’s electoral victory in November 2024, had served as the Leader of the Opposition during the MVA’s tenure from November 2019 to June 2022. Shinde, now Deputy Chief Minister, was previously the Urban Development Minister in the Uddhav Thackeray-led government before rebelling and forming a government with BJP’s support.
The four-member SIT includes Rajiv Jain, Deputy Inspector General of the State Reserve Police Force; Navnath Dhavle, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Police; and Adikrao Pol, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mumbai. The team has been directed to complete the investigation within 30 days.