Mumbai: Congress Leader Vijay Wadettiwar Alleges MVA Collapse Linked to Honey-Trap Scandal

Mumbai: Political corridors in Maharashtra are buzzing after a sensational claim by the Congress party that a covert honey-trap operation—allegedly involving 72 politicians, bureaucrats and ex-officials—was used to bring down the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

Speaking on Hindustan Times, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar said the current Eknath Shinde government was installed after a video CD of compromising footage was used to blackmail key players in the previous administration. "Though the chief minister has denied any such thing, both the government and the opposition know what happened. We’re staying silent because we don’t want to ruin careers,” Wadettiwar said.

He hinted that the operation dates back several years. "This CD was crucial. It helped bring down the MVA and install the Shinde government. It’s a serious matter," he added.

The honey-trap scandal reportedly centres around a luxury hotel in Nashik, where top officials and ministers were filmed in compromising situations. These recordings were allegedly used to extort them. According to preliminary findings, as many as 72 names have surfaced—including high-ranking IAS officers, both serving and retired.

The allegations gain weight as they come days after former Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole waved a pen drive in the state Assembly, claiming it contained damning video evidence tied to the scandal. He said the trapped officials were coerced into leaking confidential state documents, with connections leading to Mantralaya, Thane, and Nashik.

Adding another explosive layer, state Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday said that “the threads of the honey-trap scandal lead directly to the ₹20,000-crore Samruddhi Mahamarg corruption case.” He alleged attempts were being made to suppress the truth.

However, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the claims in the Assembly on Friday. "There’s no complaint, no evidence. No current or former ministers are involved," he said. He clarified that a woman had filed a complaint against a deputy district collector in Nashik, but later withdrew it. “Now, an atmosphere is being created as if this involves sitting ministers. It doesn't,” he said.

The political slugfest continues as the Congress threatens to unveil more evidence “at the right time”—a statement that has set the stage for further drama in Maharashtra’s power corridors.

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