Maharashtra SIT to probe ₹500 crore audio clip row linked to Jarange Patil, Shrikant Shinde
Synopsis
An explosive audio clip alleging a ₹500 crore payment to Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil through MP Shrikant Shinde has forced the Maharashtra government to form an SIT — but the real story is the coalition civil war it has ignited, with Shiv Sena publicly accusing the BJP of conspiring against Eknath Shinde while the BJP fires back calling the clip AI-generated.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra's Mumbai Police constituted a three-tier SIT on 26 October 2026 to probe the authenticity of an audio clip alleging a ₹500 crore payment to activist Manoj Jarange Patil .
The SIT is headed by Additional CP Shailesh Balkawde , with DCPs Vijaykant Sagar and Bajrang Bansode as members.
Jarange Patil insists the clip is '100 per cent authentic' and demands the SIT go to the 'very root' of the conspiracy.
Senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam directly accused BJP elements of targeting DCM Eknath Shinde ; the BJP denied this and called the clip AI-fabricated.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has demanded an ED probe into the alleged ₹500 crore via a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah .
CM Devendra Fadnavis questioned why conversations allegedly from over two years ago surfaced now, signalling the political timing is itself under scrutiny.
A three-tier Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted by the Mumbai Police to investigate the authenticity and origins of an audio clip released by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, which allegedly claims that ₹500 crore was paid to him through MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The SIT was formed on 26 October 2026, hours after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the Mumbai Police Commissioner to act on the controversy that has split the ruling Mahayuti coalition.
SIT Composition and Mandate
The SIT is headed by Shailesh Balkawde, Additional Commissioner of Police, with Vijaykant Sagar and Bajrang Bansode, both Deputy Commissioners of Police, as members. The team has been tasked with conducting a full forensic examination of the audio clips, tracing the origin of the recordings, and identifying all voices in the multi-person conversations. The SIT will also examine the core sources behind the recording, technical specifics, and potential criminal conspiracies. Probe directives followed formal demands from Shiv Sena leaders, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) representatives, and activist Jarange Patil himself.
Jarange Patil's Stand and Demands
Manoj Jarange Patil has firmly dismissed claims that the audio clip is AI-generated, insisting it is '100 per cent authentic.' While supporting an independent investigation, he challenged the state leadership, saying: 'Do not just play political games by forming an SIT; you need to go to the very root of this investigation.' He raised pointed questions over whether the leak and the alleged conspiracy were aimed at politically destroying Eknath Shinde's career or at stoking internal friction between him and Chief Minister Fadnavis. Jarange Patil has demanded that the financial origins and real masterminds behind what he called a smear campaign be fully exposed.
Coalition Cracks and Blame Game
The controversy has exposed sharp fault lines within the ruling alliance. Senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam alleged a conspiracy by certain leaders to politically target Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and went a step further by directly questioning whether elements within the BJP were working to marginalise Shinde due to his rising political standing. To support his claims, Kadam circulated photographs purportedly showing BJP leader Prasad Lad dining with Manoj Jarange Patil. He claimed to have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat, seeking a high-level probe.
State Industries Minister and Shinde Sena leader Uday Samant echoed similar concerns in Kolhapur, alleging that individuals linked to the BJP featured in the audio clip conversation and that the recording was part of a deliberate conspiracy to defame Eknath Shinde.
BJP Hits Back
The BJP responded sharply. Senior BJP leader and MLC Pravin Darekar warned that his party would not tolerate baseless allegations from Kadam. 'We are partners in the ruling alliance. It does not fit into Maharashtra's political culture to stay in the government and continuously attack your own ally,' he said. Darekar asked why the BJP would seek to undermine DCM Eknath Shinde, noting that the party had fully backed him for the chief ministership after the previous elections. BJP MLC Prasad Lad also cautioned Kadam against statements that could fracture the Mahayuti coalition. The BJP separately alleged that the audio clip is a fabricated, AI-generated script engineered by Sanjay Raut from a 'war room' to deliberately defame the ruling alliance.
Opposition Presses for ED Probe
From the opposition side, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut wrote a formal letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation into the source and destination of the alleged ₹500 crore, questioning why central agencies had acted swiftly on smaller amounts in previous cases. Chief Minister Fadnavis, meanwhile, questioned why conversations purportedly from over two years ago had surfaced now, assuring that the SIT investigation would uncover the full truth behind the motives and individuals involved. With the SIT now formally in charge of the forensic and criminal probe, the central question before Mumbai Police is whether the recording is authentic or manufactured — and who stands to gain politically from its release.
Point of View
With a senior Shiv Sena leader accusing the BJP of orchestrating the leak to cut Eknath Shinde down to size. The BJP's counter-allegation — that Sanjay Raut manufactured the clip in a 'war room' — only raises the stakes. What is striking is that both sides are simultaneously demanding a probe and pre-empting its conclusions. In that environment, the SIT's forensic findings, when they arrive, will be accepted only by whoever they happen to exonerate — which is exactly the wrong condition for a credible investigation.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Maharashtra audio clip controversy involving Manoj Jarange Patil?
An audio clip released by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil allegedly claims that ₹500 crore was paid to him through BJP MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The clip's authenticity is disputed, with the BJP alleging it is AI-generated and Jarange Patil insisting it is genuine.
Who is heading the SIT formed to probe the audio clip?
The SIT is headed by Shailesh Balkawde, Additional Commissioner of Police, Mumbai. Deputy Commissioners of Police Vijaykant Sagar and Bajrang Bansode are members of the three-tier team, which will conduct forensic analysis and trace the recording's origin.
Why has the audio clip triggered a rift within the Mahayuti coalition?
Senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam has publicly accused BJP elements of orchestrating the leak to politically target Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The BJP has denied the charges and warned that such allegations damage the ruling alliance. Industries Minister Uday Samant also alleged BJP-linked individuals appear in the recording.
What has the opposition demanded in connection with the ₹500 crore audio clip?
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding an Enforcement Directorate investigation into the source and alleged destination of the ₹500 crore, arguing that past probes were launched over far smaller sums.
What is the SIT mandated to investigate?
The SIT will forensically examine the audio clips to verify their authenticity, trace the origin of the recordings, identify all voices in the multi-person conversations, and investigate the core sources, technical details, and any potential criminal conspiracy behind the clips.
