Mumbai, October 23, 2026: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over a viral audio recording that has triggered a political dispute in Maharashtra. He has called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to investigate the conversations allegedly recorded in the clip, including claims of a ₹500 crore payment linked to Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange-Patil.
In a post on social media platform X on Friday, Thackeray accused the BJP of putting pressure on the media and using religious polarisation to divert public attention. He described the alleged activities discussed in the recording as an attack on democracy and said the investigation should examine the contents of the conversations, not just the recording’s authenticity.
The controversy has drawn attention from leaders across Maharashtra’s political spectrum. However, the allegations contained in the recording have not been independently verified.
Raj Thackeray questions the scope of the inquiry
Thackeray’s remarks followed Fadnavis’s announcement that the audio recording would undergo forensic examination. The MNS chief questioned whether checking the recording’s authenticity alone would be enough to address the concerns raised by its contents.
According to Thackeray, the alleged conversations point to possible efforts to influence media coverage, shape political narratives and use religious issues to divert public attention from other matters. He said the government should examine these allegations as part of a wider investigation.
He also called for an explanation regarding the ₹500 crore figure mentioned in the recording. The alleged payment has become the central issue in the dispute, although no verified evidence has established that the money was transferred.
The recording reportedly includes conversations involving people alleged to be connected with BJP political activities, a senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary and social media influencers. Their identities and the context of the conversations remain subject to verification.
How the audio controversy started
The dispute intensified after Jarange-Patil released a portion of a longer audio recording during a press conference in Jalna district on Thursday. He alleged that the recording supported his claim of a conspiracy to weaken his agitation for Maratha reservation.
The activist had raised the issue earlier at a Dussehra rally in Beed on October 20. He claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had allegedly told BJP leaders that ₹500 crore had been paid to him to stop his agitation. He also questioned whether the money had been routed through Shinde’s son, Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde.
In one portion of the released recording, a woman allegedly discusses the claimed payment and refers to Shrikant Shinde. The conversation also reportedly includes discussion about Jarange-Patil’s political influence and ways to counter his movement ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections.
Jarange-Patil has denied receiving money or agreeing to end his agitation in exchange for payment, according to reports. He has described the recording as evidence of attempts to weaken the Maratha reservation movement.
However, the recording has not been independently authenticated, and the alleged payment remains unproven.
Eknath Shinde denies the allegation
Shinde has rejected the allegation of a ₹500 crore deal. He has said that he has neither given nor received such an amount and challenged Jarange-Patil to provide evidence to support his claims.
The Deputy Chief Minister has also called for the matter to be investigated. The controversy has brought renewed attention to the relationship between Shinde and Jarange-Patil, who have previously interacted during discussions over Maratha reservation demands.
Shiv Sena leaders have also sought an inquiry. A delegation of senior party leaders met Fadnavis on Thursday and requested a forensic and cyber investigation into the recording. They called for the identities of the people heard in the clip to be established and for investigators to examine how the recording was circulated.
BJP questions whether the recording is genuine
BJP leaders have disputed the allegations and questioned the authenticity of the audio. Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar has sought an inquiry into how the recording was leaked and reached Jarange-Patil.
BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban has raised the possibility that the clip could have been generated using artificial intelligence. Other party leaders have also called for the recording to be examined before any conclusions are drawn.
State minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has asked Jarange-Patil to file a formal complaint and submit evidence to the police or district authorities. He said a complaint containing concrete evidence would allow the authorities to investigate the allegations.
A forensic examination could help determine whether the recording has been edited or manipulated. Investigators would also need to establish the identities of the speakers and the context in which the conversations took place.
What happens next?
The controversy has expanded beyond the alleged payment to questions about political campaigning, media independence and the use of religious issues in public debate. Thackeray has argued that these concerns deserve attention alongside the technical examination of the audio.
For the Maharashtra government, the immediate task is to establish whether the recording is genuine and whether its contents provide grounds for further investigation. The allegations against political leaders cannot be treated as established facts unless supported by credible evidence.
The findings of the forensic examination and any subsequent inquiry are likely to determine the next stage of the dispute. Until then, the alleged payment and the wider claims about political strategies remain unverified, while leaders from different parties continue to demand answers.
