A grainy video, a suspicious bag and a minister lounging in his vest have sent Maharashtra politics into chaos. On Friday, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut dropped the clip of Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat perched on a bed beside a bag that looks stuffed with notes.
“I feel sorry for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis! How much more public humiliation of his dignity will he continue to watch in silence? Helplessness is another name for Fadnavis!” Raut declared on X. He added, “This thrilling video should be watched by the esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah! What on earth is happening in the country!”
In the video, Shirsat sits cross-legged, dressed down, a dog by his side, a cigarette in hand. He brushes it off. “I had returned from travelling and was sitting in my bedroom after changing clothes. My dog was with me... It seems that someone recorded the video at that time,” he told ANI.
He blames sabotage from inside. “This is a well-thought-out conspiracy. I am sitting comfortably in my house, and my dog is sitting as well. Someone has recorded a video of this, which suggests they were spying on us... There might be an agent among the workers,” he said.
The bag? Just clothes, he insists. “If I have to keep such a big bag of money, is there a dearth of cupboards? Had there been money, I would have kept it in the cupboard,” he told PTI. Asked point blank if it contained only clothes, he said, “Of course. There were clothes in it.”
A tax notice that won’t go away
This mess dropped days after Shirsat admitted to an Income Tax notice. The department wants to know why his assets swelled between the 2019 and 2024 Assembly elections. He says it’s nothing shady. “Some people had filed a complaint against me with the income-tax department, based on which I was issued a notice. I will give a proper response. Nothing wrong has been done,” he said.
At an event earlier this week, Shirsat even joked about black money. “Now, black money is not going to be useful. I am speaking for myself.” The crowd laughed. It doesn’t sound as funny now.
Thackeray turns up the heat
Aaditya Thackeray jumped in fast. He tore into Shirsat’s explanation, bag and all. “Today, it's Sanjay Sirsat, sitting in his vest and underwear. We talk about 'Khokhe' (boxes of cash), '50 Khokhe, Ekdum Okay', one is clearly seen in the video. All these antics happening in just vests and undergarments, bags full of cash beside him, where did all this money come from? Who gave it?” he asked.
He didn’t stop there. “Can anyone just roam around carrying such wads of notes? And regarding the Income Tax notice that came the day before, will the IT department take any action? Will any action be taken on the orders of the Chief Minister or not? These are important questions that need answers.”
Fadnavis in the crosshairs
Devendra Fadnavis now faces awkward questions. Raut didn’t hold back. “I feel sorry for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis! How much more public humiliation of his dignity will he continue to watch in silence?” he posted.
This comes just after another scandal — Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad punched a canteen worker for stale food, then insulted the Shetty community. Fadnavis condemned that. But this? So far, silence.
The biggest question isn’t just the bag — it’s the camera. Who recorded Shirsat in his bedroom? He claims an inside job. “We are such people that anyone who visits our home eats food and drinks tea. It is our responsibility to supervise the workers. There might be an agent among them,” he said.
There’s nothing normal about a minister caught like this, half-dressed, bag open for the world. Whether it’s clothes or cash — that’s for the taxmen and the public to decide.
What this really says is simple. One more scandal, one more secret recording, one more bag stuffed with questions. The ruling alliance wants it buried. The opposition wants heads to roll. And Fadnavis, yet again, must choose between damage control or silence. Shirsat says he’ll “definitely respond.” Maharashtra’s watching.
“I feel sorry for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis! How much more public humiliation of his dignity will he continue to watch in silence? Helplessness is another name for Fadnavis!” Raut declared on X. He added, “This thrilling video should be watched by the esteemed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah! What on earth is happening in the country!”
In the video, Shirsat sits cross-legged, dressed down, a dog by his side, a cigarette in hand. He brushes it off. “I had returned from travelling and was sitting in my bedroom after changing clothes. My dog was with me... It seems that someone recorded the video at that time,” he told ANI.
He blames sabotage from inside. “This is a well-thought-out conspiracy. I am sitting comfortably in my house, and my dog is sitting as well. Someone has recorded a video of this, which suggests they were spying on us... There might be an agent among the workers,” he said.
The bag? Just clothes, he insists. “If I have to keep such a big bag of money, is there a dearth of cupboards? Had there been money, I would have kept it in the cupboard,” he told PTI. Asked point blank if it contained only clothes, he said, “Of course. There were clothes in it.”
A tax notice that won’t go away
This mess dropped days after Shirsat admitted to an Income Tax notice. The department wants to know why his assets swelled between the 2019 and 2024 Assembly elections. He says it’s nothing shady. “Some people had filed a complaint against me with the income-tax department, based on which I was issued a notice. I will give a proper response. Nothing wrong has been done,” he said.
At an event earlier this week, Shirsat even joked about black money. “Now, black money is not going to be useful. I am speaking for myself.” The crowd laughed. It doesn’t sound as funny now.
Thackeray turns up the heat
Aaditya Thackeray jumped in fast. He tore into Shirsat’s explanation, bag and all. “Today, it's Sanjay Sirsat, sitting in his vest and underwear. We talk about 'Khokhe' (boxes of cash), '50 Khokhe, Ekdum Okay', one is clearly seen in the video. All these antics happening in just vests and undergarments, bags full of cash beside him, where did all this money come from? Who gave it?” he asked.
He didn’t stop there. “Can anyone just roam around carrying such wads of notes? And regarding the Income Tax notice that came the day before, will the IT department take any action? Will any action be taken on the orders of the Chief Minister or not? These are important questions that need answers.”
Fadnavis in the crosshairs
Devendra Fadnavis now faces awkward questions. Raut didn’t hold back. “I feel sorry for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis! How much more public humiliation of his dignity will he continue to watch in silence?” he posted.
This comes just after another scandal — Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad punched a canteen worker for stale food, then insulted the Shetty community. Fadnavis condemned that. But this? So far, silence.
The biggest question isn’t just the bag — it’s the camera. Who recorded Shirsat in his bedroom? He claims an inside job. “We are such people that anyone who visits our home eats food and drinks tea. It is our responsibility to supervise the workers. There might be an agent among them,” he said.
There’s nothing normal about a minister caught like this, half-dressed, bag open for the world. Whether it’s clothes or cash — that’s for the taxmen and the public to decide.
What this really says is simple. One more scandal, one more secret recording, one more bag stuffed with questions. The ruling alliance wants it buried. The opposition wants heads to roll. And Fadnavis, yet again, must choose between damage control or silence. Shirsat says he’ll “definitely respond.” Maharashtra’s watching.
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