Mumbai Police form SIT to probe Jarange’s ₹500 crore claim as Raut writes to Shah seeking ED probe

Activist Manoj Jarange addresses a press conference on the probe into the alleged ₹500-crore transaction audio, in Jalna. File

Mumbai Police on Monday (October 26, 2026) announced a three-person SIT to probe the allegations levelled by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil. He had earlier claimed that the BJP had given ₹500 Crore to Eknath Shinde to hand it over to him to ‘manage’ the Maratha agitation. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday (October 25, 2026) wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking probe by the Enforcement Directorate into these claims.

The SIT formed by the Mumbai Police consists of three IPS officers and will be led by Additional Police Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade. The two other members include Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Vijaykant Sagar and DCP (Cyber, Crime Branch) Bajrang Bansode. The order to form the SIT has been issued by Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti.

“Mr Manoj Jarange Patil had held a press conference to relay an audio tape in front of the media. This audio tape had references to certain individuals, and to the exchange of a specific amount. It is important to do the forensic examination and technical examination of this audio, along with an impartial and in-depth probe in the issue. Thus, a Special Investigation Team is being formed,” the order issued on Monday (October 26, 2026) stated.

The claim by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil has stirred Maharashtra’s politics, drawing a wedge between the alliance partners. He has asked for a thorough probe into the matter, seeking accountability from CM Devendra Fadnavis and DCM Eknath Shinde.

The developments took place on a day when Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking an ED probe into it. He said everyone needed to know the action taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the matter, unless he himself had given the money. He sought that Mr. Shah should order an immediate probe in the matter.

“To buy out an agitation, the BJP had given ₹500 Crore. Earlier, it used to buy political leaders. If this kind of money is being spent to stop agitations now, and if the BJP leaders themselves claim that ₹500 crore was given to Shrikant Shinde to be handed over to Jarange Patil, then where is that money now? Jarange says he has not received a single penny. This is a case of Hawala. This matter comes under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. One needs to trace the money now,” Mr. Raut said after writing the letter.

He said the former Home Minister of Maharashtra, Anil Deshmukh, was arrested on alleged claims by the then Mumbai Police Commissioner that he was asked to collect ₹100 Crore. “That was only a claim. Here, Jarange Patil has evidence,” he said, asking why the Prime Minister had not yet acted in the matter.

crime / law enforcement / money laundering