Maharashtra Congress general secretary Sachin Sawant, in a shocking allegation, claimed on Friday that top BJP leaders in Maharashtra collected funds to the tune of Rs 500 crore to topple Ashok Gehlot government in Rajasthan.
Sawant urged Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh to order a probe into the alleged role played by a senior BJP leader and heavyweight former minister in this fund raising drive.
According to Sawant, the money was collected from business leaders as well as real estate players in order to topple Rajasthan government under the pretext of the rebellion raised by sacked deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot.
Sawant told THE WEEK that audio clips have revealed that money was to be paid to legislators. "A part of this money, Rs 500 crore has been raised from Maharashtra. I have discussed this serious issue with Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and he too has received inputs about such fund raising," Sawant said.
The BJP has always used money power along with central agencies like CBI, ED, Income Tax to topple opposition governments, he added.
"I told the home minister that our government should track down the mastermind behind this fund raising operation," said Sawant.
Deshmukh was not available for comments at the time of writing this news report.
