Mumbai, June 16: Amid the buzz and speculation over ‘Operation Tiger’ intensifying in Maharashtra, suggesting more MPs and MLAs are ready to abandon the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena camp, a startling claim from SS (Shinde camp) MLC Krupal Tumane has sent political temperatures soaring within the Opposition ranks.

Krupal Tumane, speaking to media, said, “Out of nine MPs of SS(UBT), seven are willing to work under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. They want to work according to his policies and ensure development of their constituencies.”

“At least seven UBT MPs and 16 MLAs are in contact with us,” he said, emphasising the scale of “discontent and disgruntlement” within the Uddhav camp.

Tumane further stated that the “discussions” with them were in an advanced stage and the switchover may happen sooner rather than later.

The assertions by MLC Krupal Tumane come in the backdrop of heightened speculation of a fresh break-up in the Uddhav camp and how shifting loyalties could shake up the Bal Thackeray-founded party and ‘perennially’ alter the support bases of the two Shiv Sena factions in the state.

The speculations have, however, been refuted strongly by at least two Shiv Sena MPs, including Uddhav Thackeray’s staunch loyalist Sanjay Raut.

SS(UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has rubbished all speculations of ‘Operation Tiger’ and affirmed that the party remains “intact, united and strong”.

Voices of discontent and unease within the camp started surfacing over a recent meeting of the Sena MPs convened at ‘Matoshree’, the residence of Uddhav Thackeray.

Conflicting reports claimed that the informal meet was given a miss by most Sena Parliamentarians, and only a handful turned up. The party later, in a clarification, stated that all the MPs had joined the meeting, though some via virtual mode. This only gave strength to speculations that something was amiss within, as this marked a clear diversion from previous such meets.

Bhausaheb Wakchaure, another Shiv Sena(UBT) MP from Shirdi, dismissed the speculation as merely hearsay and stated that too much was being read into it, for stoking fresh turmoil in Maharashtra politics.

“I am with SS(UBT). These are just speculations; they have been going on for a year. I don’t know why they are going on,” he stated.

“Today, I am standing with UBT; I can’t say about tomorrow; I am not a soothsayer,” he said, giving fresh fodder for political watchers to interpret his remarks.

New Delhi, June 16: The government on Tuesday refuted media reports that it is pursuing a deep-sea energy pipeline, connecting Gujarat to Oman and other Gulf countries.

In a clarification, the Petroleum Ministry said it has noticed a series of media reports suggesting that the Government of India is actively pursuing a deep-sea energy pipeline, sometimes referred to as the Middle East-India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP), connecting Gujarat to Oman and other Gulf countries.

“The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas wishes to categorically clarify that no such proposal is currently under consideration by this Ministry. There are no active discussions or negotiations with Oman or any other Gulf countries on this project at any level in this Ministry,” it said in a statement.

“This clarification is issued to put all speculation in this regard to rest,” added the ministry.

Meanwhile, the Malta-flagged LNG carrier DISHA, managed by a Shipping Corporation of India-led consortium, safely transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with a cargo of 62,370 metric tonnes of LNG bound for Dahej in Gujarat, and is likely to reach India on June 18.

The government said it remains in continuous coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Indian missions abroad, shipping companies, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers and provide all assistance. Port operations across India remain normal, with no congestion reported.

The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) has also advised shipping companies as well as maritime recruitment and placement agencies to restrict deployment of Indian seafarers to in the Middle East conflict areas until further orders, days after three Indian seafarers onboard MT Settebello were killed after the US military strike on the commercial vessel off the Oman coast.

DG Shipping, in a circular, said masters of vessels operating in or transiting through the Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz and adjoining waters, are advised to maintain heightened security awareness, closely monitor navigational warnings received and advisories issued from security agencies, and implement all applicable ship security measures and company security procedures.

Hyderabad, June 16: Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday conducted searches at premises linked to an official in the Lands and Surveys Department in an alleged case of disproportionate assets (DA).

ACB officials conducted simultaneous searches at 12 locations in and around Hyderabad against Sunkari Narahari, Deputy Director of Lands and Surveys (Multi Zone-2), over allegations of amassing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.

Led by ACB DSP Gangasani Sridhar, raids were carried out at Narahari’s residence in Chatrinaka in the old city, his office in Narayanaguda, and properties linked to his relatives and close associates.

Sources say officials seized around Rs one crore in cash, along with documents related to multiple properties and significant bank deposits.

ACB officials were using currency counting machines to count wads of notes and weighing machines for gold jewellery and silver items. The anti-graft agency is continuing investigations into his assets, bank accounts and investments.

The ACB is likely to issue a detailed statement on the searches and its findings in the evening.

The raids were conducted following allegations that the official was involved in corrupt practices.

This comes a week after the ACB arrested Roads and Buildings (R&B) Engineer-in-Chief Mohan Naik in a disproportionate assets case.

The ACB officials on June 9 conducted searches at the residence and other premises linked to Mohan Naik and his relatives.

The officials recovered Rs 60 lakh cash, gold jewellery weighing a kilogram, and 13 gold biscuits. They also found documents of properties in Hyderabad and Nizamabad.

According to the ACB, assets identified during raids have an official value of about Rs 17.95 crore. However, their market value is estimated at nearly Rs 200 crore.

The agency produced Mohan Naik before a court, which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

There have been allegations that the Engineer-in-Chief favoured certain companies in awarding contracts and building a large network of influence across Telangana.=