'Murder Of Democracy' Raj Thackeray Targets CM Fadnavis & BJP Over Manoj Jarange's ₹500 Crore Audio Allegations
· Free Press Journal
Mumbai, Oct 23: MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Friday described an audio clip released by Maratha activist Manoj Jarange alleging a Rs 500-crore payout as "nothing short of a murder of democracy", saying Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must demonstrate impartiality during the probe into the recording.
In a sharp post on X, Thackeray accused Fadnavis of trying to buy time by ordering a forensic probe into the audio clip, which he claimed featured BJP and RSS office-bearers.
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Earlier in the day, Fadnavis said that the audio clip released by Jarange, which purportedly claims that Rs 500 crore was delivered to him through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, will be thoroughly investigated using forensic methods.
#WATCH | Nagpur: On a viral audio clip alleging that Shiv Sena paid Rs 500 crore to Maratha activist Manoj Jarange through Lok Sabha MP Dr. Shrikant Shinde, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "Shiv Sena, the BJP have demanded an investigation into the matter. We will investigate the issue, including why the audio has surfaced after two and a half years, the motive behind it, the people involved and its authenticity."
— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2026
Jarange Alleges Conspiracy Against Maratha Agitation
Jarange on Thursday released the audio clip in Jalna, alleging that a conspiracy was hatched to silence him and weaken the Maratha agitation. He made the recording public after Deputy CM Eknath Shinde challenged him to prove allegations that the latter had secured Rs 500 crore from the BJP and funnelled it through his son and MP, Shrikant Shinde.
Maharashtra Politics: CM Devendra Fadnavis Orders Forensic Probe Into Manoj Jarange's Viral Audio Clip, Ramdas Kadam Targets BJP LeadersThackeray Questions Impartiality Of Forensic Probe
"If you (Fadnavis) agree with that, then as chief minister, show Maharashtra how impartial you are and what action you have taken. Only then will this forensic (probe) have any meaning; otherwise, it will just be a forensic (investigation) twisted to your advantage," the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief said in a post on X.
"But if you actually listen to the conversation in this, you will realise it is nothing short of a murder and rape of democracy itself," he wrote.
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BJP And RSS Office-Bearers Allegedly Feature
Thackeray further claimed that some BJP office-bearers, those who play a key role in the party's social media, a senior RSS office-bearer and some YouTube influencers, who call themselves neutral political analysts, feature in the clip.
"The bit about Rs 500 crore is what's making waves. Explanations will come for that, and they absolutely must. But there should also be discussion on the way the BJP is bringing its heel down on social media and the press," he added.
(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)
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