Wed Feb 26 20:50:00 UTC 2025: **Saamana Accuses Shinde of Rampant Corruption, Praises Fadnavis’ Anti-Corruption Drive**

Mumbai, February 27, 2025 – The Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece, Saamana, has launched a scathing attack on former Chief Minister and current Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, accusing him of fostering widespread corruption during his tenure. The editorial, published Wednesday, contrasts Shinde’s administration with that of current Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, praising Fadnavis’s strong anti-corruption stance and efforts to clean up state politics.

Saamana alleges that under Shinde, “fixers and brokers” thrived, leading to severe financial mismanagement and the diversion of massive public funds to buy political loyalties. The editorial claims that ₹10,000 crore was siphoned off by Shinde’s “chief collector,” who has reportedly fled to Dubai. It further alleges that inflated tenders, fraudulent projects, and land scams fueled this corruption, citing a ₹500 crore tender allegedly inflated to ₹3,000 crore, with ₹1,000 crore siphoned off before the project even began. A significant portion of this money, the editorial claims, was intended for Shinde loyalists. Contractors’ associations, according to Saamana, claim the previous government owes them nearly ₹90,000 crore, with ₹25,000 crore already paid as bribes.

The editorial highlights Fadnavis’s actions, such as revoking ministers’ power to appoint personal assistants and officers on special duty, rejecting 16 appointments due to their alleged involvement in Shinde’s corrupt networks. Saamana argues that Fadnavis’s anti-corruption drive has rattled Shinde and his supporters, causing a financial crisis for the faction. The editorial also points to allegations of commission extortion against the MMRDA by a French consultancy firm, highlighting the damage to India’s international reputation.

The article concludes by noting Shinde’s complaint to Union Minister Amit Shah about Fadnavis cutting off financial resources to Shinde’s MLAs and MPs. Saamana urges Fadnavis to reveal the names of Shinde and his associates to Prime Minister Modi, who has vowed to crack down on corruption.

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