Bhrashtnath Shinde must resign: Aditya Thackeray demands probe into tender scam

Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, demanding his resignation after the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) cancelled two high-value tenders following a Supreme Court nudge.

Thackeray alleged the Rs 14,000 crore Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects were rigged from the outset, with just 20 days initially given for bids, later extended to 60 days after judicial intervention.

“Last year, in October, I raised issues about the Thane-Ghodbunder to Bhayandar tunnel and elevated road projects. For tenders worth over Rs 14,000 crore, only 20 days' time was given. Later, the court intervened and it beacme 60 days. Means since the start, this tender has been rigged. Will there be action on Brashtnath (corrupt) Shinde? The CM should remove him from the cabinet,” Thackeray said.

Furthermore, Aaditya congratulated L&T for challenging the MMRDA process in court, adding that “there was a possibility of a scam in this case from the beginning, in which I was repeatedly holding press conferences to expose the scam.”

“I am asking the Chief Minister directly whether he will have the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) probe against the person who has this account, Brashtnath Shinde? Will he be investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED)? Brashtnath Shinde had this account earlier too, will there be an ED and judicial investigation into the cases then?,” he asked, suggesting that irregularities may have occurred during Shinde’s earlier tenure as well.

Thackeray urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to remove Shinde from the cabinet until an independent investigation is completed. “Fadnavis must act. He should ask Shinde to resign and initiate an ED and judicial probe,” he said.