Amid the rating controversy over the Rs 500-crore audio clip recently brought to light by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, Shiv Sena MP and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son Shrikant Shinde broke his silence on Saturday, saying that he is also looking for the amount claimed in the purported audio clip.

He said that the person to whom these Rs 500 crores were supposed to be sent hasn’t reached him. “The question that has crossed Manoj Jarange Patil’s mind has also crossed mine, and I am now out searching for it,” he said.

In a sarcastic tone, he added, “We were discussing how Rs 500 crore in cash would look together and how many vehicles would be required to transport it.”

Shrikant Shinde’s reaction is important as the audio clip mentioned a transaction of Rs 500 crore, with allegations that this money was delivered to Jarange Patil through the former.

Shrikant Shinde clarified that the issue now falls under the purview of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and everything will come to light at the appropriate time. Just as Jarange Patil is investigating the issue, he mentioned that he is also looking into the matter himself.

“If you find out, you tell me; if I find out, I will tell you,” he remarked.

Amidst all these developments, Jarange Patil has warned that he possesses more “nuclear bombs.”

CM Fadnavis has already ordered a forensic probe, while BJP and Shiv Sena have demanded an impartial probe.

Earlier, Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claimed that there is a deep-seated conspiracy to finish off the leadership of both Manoj Jarange-Patil and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He also demanded a technical and forensic analysis of the audio clip.

Further, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Chandrakant Khaire has levelled serious accusations against the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.

He asked, “Who made Manoj Jarange Patil big, and why are they now trying to sideline him?” Khaire asserted that Jarange Patil fought to secure justice and rights for the Maratha community, which is why the community stood firmly behind him.”

However, he claimed that leaders have become worried about their own political future due to Jarange Patil’s growing influence.

Khaire demanded that the controversial audio clip be sent for forensic testing and the truth be brought before the public. He made a strong case for an impartial inquiry. Khaire also raised questions regarding the alleged Rs 500-crore transaction.

He demanded an inquiry into Shrikant Shinde if his name is being linked to this financial transaction. He further claimed that this entire episode has the blessings of the BJP, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

MIRA-BHAYANDAR, Oct 24 — In a major crackdown on interstate narcotics trafficking, the Crime Detection Branch Unit 4 of the Mira-Bhayandar, Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police successfully dismantled a chemical factory in Telangana that was manufacturing raw materials for Mephedrone (MD) drugs. The recent raid marks a significant milestone in an ongoing investigation, bringing the total number of arrests in this sprawling drug syndicate to 25.

The operation traces its roots back to June 24, 2026, when police arrested two individuals—Avinash alias Sonu Loknath Iyer (22) and Ravikant Omprakash Ram (23)—near Priya Washing Center in Nallasopara East. Authorities seized 112 grams of MD worth Rs. 3,36,000 from their possession, registering an FIR at the Tulinj Police Station under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

Following the initial arrests, senior officials transferred the investigation to Crime Branch Unit 4 for a more in-depth probe. This intensive investigation previously led to the arrest of 19 accused and the unearthing of two illicit MD manufacturing factories. These factories were operating on agricultural lands in Gram Sandhan, Kutch, Gujarat, and Kosada Kala in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Prior to the latest raid, police had already seized 69.871 kilograms of MD, cash, 260 liters of chemicals, and lab equipment.

The continued investigation resulted in the arrest of five more individuals from various locations. These newly arrested suspects include:

• Murtuja Mohammadbhai Patrawala alias Monto alias Hasnain Bhopali (36) from Nandurbar.
• Shubham Vinod More (23) from Buldhana.
• Salim alias Salimbhai Ismail alias Ismail Dola (61) from Mumbai.
• Sabir Mohammad Devlekar alias King Memon alias Sabirali (42) from Mumbai.
• Mohammad Tehrim Abdul Rais Siddiqui (37) from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
  
  Interrogations revealed that a 25th accused, Ramesh Babu Sake, a resident of Medchal-Malkajgiri, Hyderabad, was illegally manufacturing and supplying an NDPS-controlled chemical powder, “2-BROMO-4-METHYLPROPIOPHENONE,” which is essential for producing MD drugs. He was operating out of IDA Pashamylaram in Sangareddy district, Telangana.
  
  Acting on this intelligence, a team from Crime Branch Unit 4 raided the location on October 21, 2026, with the assistance of the Patancheru Police from the Cyberabad Police Commissionerate. The team successfully apprehended Ramesh Babu Sake and destroyed his factory. Police seized 44.699 kilograms of the chemical powder worth Rs. 27,06,740, along with other chemicals and laboratory equipment.
  
  To date, the MBVV police have arrested 25 individuals involved in various roles—including chemical suppliers, drug manufacturers, smugglers, peddlers, and financial facilitators—from Nallasopara, Mumbai, Kalyan, Neral, Jalgaon, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana.
  
  The extensive operation was executed by Crime Branch Unit 4 under the guidance of Commissioner of Police Niket Kaushik, Additional Commissioner Sanjay Shintre, DCP (Crime) Sandeep Doiphode, and Senior PI Nitin Patil. The raiding team was led by Police Inspector Pramod Badakh, along with API Pravin Bhosale, API Dattatray Sarak, PSI Umesh Bhagwat, and other personnel, supported by the Cyber Cell.

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.”