Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has accused Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leaders Supriya Sule and Rohit Pawar of orchestrating a “conspiracy” against Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, a BJP MLA from Man constituency in Satara district.

Speaking in the state assembly on Tuesday, March 25, Fadnavis claimed there is evidence linking the NCP (SP) figures to an extortion attempt involving a woman who accused Gore of harassment—a charge he was acquitted of in 2019. The CM, who oversees the home portfolio, vowed a thorough probe into the matter.

The controversy stems from an incident last week when police arrested the woman, along with reporter Tushar Kharat and Anil Subedhar, for allegedly demanding ₹3 crore from Gore to drop her allegations. She was caught accepting ₹1 crore in a sting operation by Satara’s local crime branch.

“All three conspired against Gore, and we have proof—WhatsApp messages and calls,” Fadnavis told the House, adding that one Prabhakarao Deshmukh had over 100 conversations with the accused, with videos targeting Gore sent to Sule and Pawar.

The opposition has demanded Gore’s resignation, citing the woman’s claims of harassment and objectionable photos, despite his 2019 acquittal in a 2017 molestation case under IPC Section 354. Fadnavis highlighted this, questioning the case’s revival.

Sule, a Baramati MP, and Pawar, an MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed, dismissed the allegations. Pawar admitted to “a call or two” to ensure justice for the woman and journalist but denied extensive involvement, saying, “We certainly did not make 100-200 phone calls.”

Fadnavis stressed that political rivalry should not devolve into personal vendettas, noting Gore’s earlier privilege motions against Kharat, Pawar, and Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut for defaming him.

As the assembly debates intensify, the CM criticized the opposition’s tactics, calling the privilege committee “toothless” against such attacks.