New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS): Shiv Sena leader Vinayak Bhaurao Raut on Tuesday sought information from the Centre over Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Anantkumar Hegde's claims that Devendra Fadnavis was made Maharashtra Chief Minister despite lacking majority only to "protect" Rs 40,000 crore central funds from "misuse" by the Sena-NCP-Congress government.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Raut said there had been reports in the media citing Hegde that Rs 40,000 crore had been returned to the Centre and Fadnavis was made the Chief Minister for that purpose.

"Whether the central government gave this money and the Maharashtra government returned it. I want to get this information," Raut said.

However, Fadnavis rubbished Hegde's claims and described his party colleague's statement as "preposterous and 100 per cent baseless".

Hedge had told a gathering in the Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka on Monday: "It was entirely planned earlier. Once we got to know (about newly minted three parties to form government), it was decided that a drama would be played out. Adjustments were made and oath was taken, and within 15 hours Fadnavis systematically ensured that it (money) reached where it had to and protected it."