Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Feb 1: A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to investigate an alleged conspiracy by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to frame former leader of opposition, Devendra Fadnavis, during the MVA’s tenure from November 2019 to June 2022. Joint commissioner of police (law and order), Satyanarayan Choudhary, has been appointed to lead the SIT and submit a detailed report to the state government.

The decision to form the SIT was made public during the state legislative session in Nagpur in December 2024, after BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Pravin Darekar raised the issue. Darekar claimed that the MVA government had conspired to arrest Fadnavis. Responding to this, cabinet minister Shambhuraje Desai confirmed the formation of the SIT, with the assurance that a senior IPS officer would oversee the investigation.

Darekar also alleged that there were videos showing police officials pressuring citizens to make false statements to implicate Fadnavis. However, an anonymous MVA leader questioned the timing of the investigation, asking why former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde or Fadnavis, when he held the home portfolio, did not initiate an inquiry earlier. The leader suggested that the investigation could be a move by the ruling party to silence the Opposition.

Attempts to reach Iqbal Singh Chahal, additional chief secretary - home department, for comment went unanswered.