Overview

• A video circulated Friday shows Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat seated beside a bag appearing to contain bundles of currency notes.
• Shirsat dismissed suspicions about illicit funds, saying the bag held only clothes and personal items from travel.
• Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut shared the footage and criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for not addressing the incident.
• Fadnavis has initiated a probe into earlier allegations that a Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar hotel auction was manipulated to benefit Shirsat’s son.
• Rival factions within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance and opposition parties claim the incident underscores cracks in the government and renew calls for accountability.