Maharashtra: Shinde Sena minister accuses Ajit Pawar-led department of ‘illegal’ fund diversion

Sanjay Shirsat, the social justice minister in Maharashtra’s Mahayuti government and leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, on Saturday accused the Ajit Pawar-led finance department of “illegally” diverting funds from his department without his knowledge, reported PTI.

“They had diverted Rs 7,000 crore from my department earlier [during Budget] by keeping me in the dark,” Shirsat was quoted as saying. “If the government does not want the Social Justice Department to function or they do not want to spend money, then they should shut down this department.”

Shirsat added that the diversion of funds was not legal and said he would raise the matter before Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The social justice minister also accused the Finance Department of “high-handedness”.

“Their action is wrong,” he said. “I oppose it.”

Earlier in the day, Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve, also claimed that Rs 414.30 crore out of the Rs 3,960 crore allocated to the Social Justice Department had been diverted by the state government.

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) leader claimed that Rs 335.70 crore was diverted from the Tribal Development Department to cover monthly cash transfers under the Ladki Bahin women’s welfare scheme.

“The government stole the tribals' share of the money to pay their beloved...

Read more

News