The action was taken by the ED against the family of CM Uddhav Thackeray

After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attached 11 properties belonging to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's brother-in-law on Wednesday, a heated war of words erupted between the Maha Vikas Aghadi allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

 

Top BJP leaders warned that "this is just the beginning and further action will follow in the coming weeks" as a political maelstrom raged in the state, while MVA leaders accused the BJP of "blatantly exploiting central probe agencies to harass and destabilise the state administration."

 

After the ED attached properties of a company allegedly owned by Shridhar Madhav Patankar, Thackeray's brother-in-law, Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane said ominously, "Aage Aage Dekho, Hota Hai Kya" (wait and see what unfolds ahead), while his MLA son Nitesh Rane dropped hints seeking the CM's resignation.

 

Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis, in a rebuttal to the MVA's allegations, stated that the investigation agencies are simply doing their job without any intervention or influence in order to uncover corruption at all levels. Kirit Somaiya, a BJP activist and former MP, has threatened to reveal at least a half-dozen more 'corrupt ministers' of the Maha Vasooli (extortionist) Aghadi' 3-party alliance, as well as other scandals involving prominent politicians.

 

Another activist, Mohit (Kamboj) Bharatiya, promised more fireworks to expose the MVA's top brass and certain bureaucrats' alleged financial misdeeds and investments in US properties. The ED said that 11 flats in Thane's Neelambari realty project belong to Shree Saibaba Grihanirmiti Pvt Ltd, which is owned and controlled by Patankar, CM Thackeray's brother-in-law and brother-in-law of his wife Rashmi Thackeray.

 

The surprising action stemmed from a money-laundering complaint filed by the PMLA against Pushpak Bullion and other group entities in March 2017, while the BJP-Sena coalition was in power in the state. NCP President Sharad Pawar, MVA ministers and leaders such as Eknath Shinde and Aaditya Thackeray, MPs Supriya Sule, Sanjay Raut, Nana Patole, and others slammed the ED for targeting opposition-ruled states such as Maharashtra and West Bengal with the sinister intent of instilling fear and bringing down duly elected governments.

 

 

Image Courtesy: Twitter @MeNarayanRane