Political reactions have intensified over an alleged audio clip concerning a purported Rs 500-crore transaction involving Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, with Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey defending Shinde and Congress leader Husain Dalwai calling for an investigation.

The controversy erupted in political circles in Maharashtra after Manoj Jarange Patil released an explosive audio clip, alleging a deep-rooted political conspiracy to defame the Maratha agitation and crush his movement.

A startling segment in the audio explicitly claimed: “Jarange Patil ko already 500 crore roopaye pahunch chuke hain, jo Shrikant Shinde ke madhyam se pahunch chuke hain (Rs 500 crore has already reached Manoj Jarange through Shrikant Shinde)”, adding that the “primary personal target remains Devendra Fadnavis and the BJP.”

Shinde has denied the allegations and called for a formal investigation to establish whether the audio clips are authentic or potentially AI-generated fabrications.

Referring to the controversy, Shiv Sena leader Anand Dubey alleged Shinde’s reputation was being targeted through allegations based on an audio clip purportedly dating back two years.

“Our leader Eknath Shinde is a ‘karmaveer’ leader and comes from the Maratha community. Whoever is tarnishing his image will be forgiven neither by the Maratha community of Maharashtra nor by the non-Maratha community. Eknath Shinde is a leader who works tirelessly day and night, and allegations are being levelled against him based on an alleged audio recording that is two-years-old,” Dubey told media.

He added, “We will thank the Chief Minister for ordering a forensic investigation into the audio clip. A delegation of our leaders has met him and is asking who these people were who were talking two or two-and-a-half years ago, and why this is being released today. The matter will be investigated.”

Emphasising the alliance between Shiv Sena and the BJP, Dubey said the parties were part of the NDA.

Congress leader Husain Dalwai, meanwhile, questioned the alleged amount involved and called for an investigation into the matter. He also raised concerns about the demand for Maratha reservation and its potential implications for the existing Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

“The question Jarange is raising is itself the wrong question. The demand is that the Maratha community should get reservation, is that wrong? Poor people in the Maratha community should receive education, get jobs and receive assistance for their farming. That is understandable. But if they are included in the reservation system, what happens to those who genuinely belong to the OBC category?” Dalwai said.

Questioning the scale of the alleged transaction, he added, “The second thing is this Rs 500-crore matter. First, count how many zeros there are in one crore. This matter should be investigated.”

Dalwai also took a swipe at Shinde over his political association, saying, “I would tell Eknath Shinde that the party he has joined, you will gradually understand what it is.”

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a 33-year-old man suspected of having links with the banned terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) from Mumbai Mahim area, officials said.

The accused, identified as Mohammad Hasan Abu Sarmad Akhtar, was apprehended by the Kalachowki unit of the Maharashtra ATS near Mahim Metro station following a tip-off.

According to the investigating agency, the accused used his work as a Rapido rider and perfume seller as a cover while propagating radical ideology.

The ATS alleged that he was attempting to spread communal hatred and anti-national sentiments through various social media platforms. Investigators also recovered material allegedly linked to such activities from his mobile phone.

According to the agency, the accused operated a Telegram group where he allegedly uploaded inflammatory audio speeches by Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Maulana Masood Azhar on the Babri Masjid and other issues on June 1. The ATS also claimed that he was an active member of a Pakistan-backed extremist Telegram channel called ‘IBN-e-Qasim’.

The arrest comes months after the Gujarat ATS detained five people in July during an investigation into an alleged terror module linked to JeM.

The five accused were identified as Bilal Abidbhai Shera, Mohammad Ayub Kadiwala, Mohammad Palanpuri alias Khali Ayub Sunsara, Shafia Rais Mukhti and Mohammad Hasan Kardia. They were arrested from Khadiyal village in Siddhpur taluka of Gujarat’s Patan district.

Officials said the five suspects came under the scanner during the investigation into eight alleged JeM operatives arrested earlier that month.

The accused were produced before Judicial Magistrate R.M. Bhatia in Kadi town of Mehsana district, who remanded them to ATS custody until July 24.

Public Prosecutor P.R. Dantani told the court that custodial interrogation was necessary to investigate the alleged activities of the accused. He had claimed that one of them had attempted to make a time bomb and that investigators were yet to recover bomb-making materials and Urdu literature linked to the JeM.

Speaking to reporters, Dantani had said the names of the five accused had emerged during the investigation. He added that the ATS wanted to determine the source of the alleged bomb-making materials, where they had been concealed, and how the accused obtained jihadi literature associated with the banned outfit.

Investigators were also seeking information about where the literature had been stored.

The investigation into the firing incident targeting Bollywood actor Tiger Shroff has revealed that the shooters were in constant contact with their handler through phone calls and messages. Investigators suspect that the accused were also receiving real-time updates about the police investigation, including information broadcast on television news channels.

According to sources, the shooters remained in touch with their handler during and after the October 18 attack. They were provided with updates about developments in the case and the police operation to identify and apprehend them.

Sources said that after information about the shooters’ identities and appearances began emerging, the handler instructed them to leave the area. The accused were also reportedly kept informed about news coverage of the incident.

Investigators suspect that someone was monitoring television news channels and passing relevant information to the accused.

When footage of the shooting and images of the suspects, captured in videos recorded by vloggers, were broadcast, one of the accused, Rehan Ansari, received messages instructing him to leave.

However, the identity of the person who monitored television coverage and relayed information to the shooters remains unknown. The police are investigating the communication network used by the accused and their associates.

According to police sources, investigators suspect that Anil Pandit, who is believed to be in the US, or Ankit Khattak and Sameer Khatri, who were recently arrested in Sonipat, may have been involved in directing Rehan through Internet-based communication applications.

The police have reportedly recovered photographs, videos and details of conversations from the accused. The investigation has also revealed that the suspects allegedly changed their travel plans and modes of transport in response to information about police movements.

After the firing at Tiger Shroff’s car on October 18, the three alleged shooters fled on motorcycles before travelling to different locations by train and cab. They relied on Internet-based calls instead of conventional mobile networks, making it difficult for investigators to trace their communications.

A routine phone conversation between one of the accused and a cab driver reportedly provided the police with an important lead. Acting on information shared by the Mumbai Police, the three suspects were subsequently arrested from a train in Kota, Rajasthan.

So far, 10 people have been arrested in connection with the case. The three alleged shooters Phool Singh (18), Rehan Rahimuddin Ansari (18) and Hrithik Mahato (22) remain in police custody until October 31.

According to sources in the Mumbai Crime Branch, Randeep Malik, associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, reportedly connected Rehan with Anil Pandit. Another accused, Kunal, is also suspected of having come into contact with Pandit through Malik.

Investigators further suspect that individuals who conducted reconnaissance in Mumbai sent photographs of locations associated with the actor to Pandit and Malik. These reportedly included Tiger Shroff’s football ground and several locations in the Juhu and Bandra areas.

Sources said that the accused allegedly discussed testing the firearm before carrying out the attack. Hrithik reportedly suggested the forests of Aarey Colony for this purpose, as his experience working as a Rapido rider in Mumbai had made him familiar with the area.

During interrogation, the accused claimed that Tiger Shroff’s praise for actor Salman Khan at an event was among the reasons behind the decision to target him.

Sources said investigators were examining these claims. The Crime Branch has not yet established the motive conclusively.

Meanwhile, Tiger Shroff is said to have been deeply disturbed by the incident. An officer said the actor told the police during preliminary discussions that he was shocked by the firing and had never imagined that his car would be targeted.

The actor reportedly told investigators that he had no personal enmity with anyone and did not know who the attackers were or why they had opened fire.

A Crime Branch officer said the actor’s statement has not yet been formally recorded because he was distressed following the incident. The police are expected to record his statement soon as the investigation continues.