Special Correspondent
Mumbai: In a series of explosive allegations, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) MP Sanjay Raut has claimed that Ajay Ashar, a close aide responsible for managing the financial and land transactions of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, has fled the country with illicit wealth amounting to thousands of crores.
According to Raut, Ashar, who once held the post of Vice President in the ‘Mitra’ organization—a body established by the then Chief Minister on the lines of the central government’s NITI Aayog—accumulated vast fortunes unlawfully during recent political upheavals. Raut alleged that during an attempt to fragment the Shiv Sena, Ashar, in collusion with a BJP MP from Surat and several Mumbai-based contractors, tried to “buy” legislators.
Raut further pointed out that, just as high-profile figures like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya are known to have fled the country amid controversies, Ashar has similarly absconded with what is claimed to be at least ₹10,000 crore. He criticized the authorities for their inaction and urged that the Home Ministry file cases and investigate Ashar’s financial dealings, questioning whether agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) would ever be able to reach him.
In a pointed remark, Raut defended Chief Minister Eknath Shinde by stating that unlike his close aide, Shinde never engaged in corrupt practices. He argued that while a person of Shinde’s stature takes decisive “leaps” in leadership—akin to the Garuda’s majestic flight—such vile and unscrupulous behavior should not be attributed to him. Instead, it is these alleged actions by Ashar and his cohorts that must be curtailed.
No official response has been received from either Ashar or the Chief Minister regarding these serious allegations. The claims, if verified, could add a new chapter to the already complex political and financial landscape of Maharashtra.
