Maharashtra govt forms SIT to probe Jaranage's 'Rs 500 crore' audio clip

NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government on Monday constituted a three-member special investigation team (SIT) to conduct an in-depth inquiry into an audio clip released by Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange.As per the official order, the SIT will comprise Shailesh Balkawade, additional commissioner, south region, Mumbai, who will head it; Vijaykant Sagar, deputy commissioner of police (South Zone 3, Mumbai); and Bajrang Bansode, deputy commissioner of police (Cyber, Crime Branch, Mumbai)."The SIT will undertake a forensic examination, technical analysis, and comprehensive, impartial investigation into the recording. The head of the SIT has been authorised to appoint any additional officers required for the inquiry," the order said."The team has also been directed to submit periodic updates on the progress of the investigation," it added.This comes after Jarange released an audio clip featuring unidentified persons talking about Rs 500 crore allegedly being given to the Maratha quota activist by Shiv Sena MP and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Shrikant Shinde. In the viral recording, which purportedly features BJP functionaries, a woman is heard claiming that Rs 500 crore had been delivered to Jarange through Shrikant Shinde, son of Eknath Shinde and a Shiv Sena MP.The speakers are also heard discussing strategies to counter Jarange's growing political influence in the Marathwada region ahead of the 2024 assembly elections. Rohitashwa Ranjan is a digital journalist with The Times of India, where he decodes Indian politics as a carefully staged production with scripts, subtext and everything behind. His stories track elections, party dynamics and the things that often are buried beneath the headlines. When not parsing vote shares or alliances, he is usually reading between the lines, where the real story tends to reside.