28 February,2024 07:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
The Shinde faction has accused the Thackeray-led group of cheating and forgery. File Pics
The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has initiated a probe into allegations by the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) regarding the Shiv Sena UBT (Uddhav Thackeray faction) misusing the party accounts and diverting Rs 50 crore after the Election Commission of India (ECI) declared the former as the authentic Shiv Sena.
Sources indicate that earlier this month, the legal team of the Shiv Sena Shinde faction filed a complaint with the EOW, accusing Shiv Sena UBT of cheating and forgery in connection with the alleged fund transfer. The EOW, in turn, reached out to the income tax department to obtain details regarding the taxes paid for the bank accounts, aiming to determine the taxpaying entity after the ECI's order declared the Shinde faction as the authentic Sena.
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Sources revealed the existence of three different accounts under the name of Shiv Sena - collectively holding around Rs 50 crore - from where funds were allegedly transferred to the Shiv Sena UBT account. An officer stated, "We are examining the legal implications of whether Shiv Sena UBT can access the funds from the original account, given the ECI declaration of the Shinde faction being the authentic Sena."
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Officers from the EOW are also considering the legal aspects of the situation wherein some MLAs who contested under the original Shiv Sena symbol remain aligned with the Thackeray faction and have not been disqualified. "These are crucial aspects that require legal clarification before any action is taken," the officer stated. Furthermore, officials are examining the signing authority responsible for the fund transfer and questioning the necessity behind such actions.
The EOW is carrying out its investigation before registering a case of cheating and forgery as demanded by the Shinde faction. The ECI declared the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena and also awarded it the original party's bow and arrow symbol on February 17, 2023.
