In the video, Sanjay Shirsat can be seen sitting in a room along with a partially opened bag containing what look like bundles of notes.
Credit: X/@rautsanjay61
Mumbai: In a major embarassment to the BJP-led Maha Yuti government, Shiv Sena leader and state Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat landed in yet another controversy after a video of him sitting on a bed, smoking a cigarette with stash of cash around him.
Former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray's close aide and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut posted the video on social media platforms - which immediately went viral.
Shirsat, a four-time MLA from Aurangabad West, in June 2022 rebelled against Thackeray and joined Eknath Shinde, who topped the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the help of BJP.
In the post, Raut said that he feels pity for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
"How many more times, he will just sit and watch his reputation being torn to shreds?...helplessness this has another name... Fadnavis....this thrilling video should be watches by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah...what is going on in the country...the video says a lot," he wrote.
Fadnavis, who is also the state Home Minister and Shinde, the Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief leader, has not commented so far.
The development coincides with the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature and a day after reports that he has received an Income Tax notice.
Shirsat, however, has denied the charges.
"The place is my home...it shows I am sitting in my bedroom. My pet dog and a bag is also seen. I had just return from travel and has just removed the clothes," he said.
Shirsat pointed out that there is not dearth of cupboards if he has to keep the money.
Asked whether there was clothes in the bag, he replied in affirmative and said that he has just return from travel.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray, reacting to the incident, said: "He is sitting in a vest and underwear...we have been talking of 'pannas khoke, ekdum okay'...now it is seen in video."