Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut ignited a political firestorm, alleging that four Maharashtra ministers and several officials were ensnared in a “honey trap” scandal. Posting on X, Raut claimed four young MPs from the undivided Shiv Sena were coerced into defecting to Eknath Shinde’s faction in 2022 due to such entrapment. Without naming individuals, he accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of misleading the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly by denying the existence of honeytrap cases.

Raut, speaking in New Delhi during Parliament’s monsoon session, pointed to a photograph of BJP minister Girish Mahajan with Prafulla Lodha, an accused in POCSO and honeytrap cases, claiming police are investigating four pen drives and two CDs related to the scandal. He suggested Lodha’s influence could “ruin” Mahajan if exposed.

BJP leaders hit back, dismissing Raut’s claims as baseless. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule challenged Raut to produce evidence, calling the allegations a “poor attempt to stay in the limelight” and accusing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of spreading lies after losing power. Girish Mahajan labeled the claims “foolish,” noting Lodha has photos with leaders across parties, including Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray, and argued that a photograph does not imply guilt.

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The controversy follows Congress MLA Nana Patole’s recent claim of possessing a pen drive with evidence of a honeytrap racket targeting officials in Thane, Nashik, and Mumbai’s Mantralaya, a charge Fadnavis also dismissed. The BJP maintains that if Raut or the MVA have proof, they should present it publicly without fear.

Also Read: Chaos in Vidhan Bhavan: Sanjay Raut Slams BJP, Demands President's Rule