Sanjay Raut Alleges Honeytrap Scandal Involving Maharashtra Ministers; BJP Hits Back, Calls Claims Baseless

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has stirred a political storm by alleging that four Maharashtra ministers and several government officials have been “honey trapped” — a claim that has triggered sharp reactions from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which dismissed the allegations as “foolish” and lacking in credibility.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Raut claimed that four young MPs from the erstwhile united Shiv Sena were victims of a honeytrap operation, which he said ultimately led to their defection to the Eknath Shinde-led faction during the 2022 rebellion that split the party.

“These MPs were pressured and manipulated through honeytraps,” alleged Raut, who is currently in New Delhi to attend the Monsoon Session of Parliament. “They were cleansed after aligning with the BJP,” he added, in a veiled dig at the current ruling alliance in Maharashtra, where Eknath Shinde became Chief Minister in June 2022 with BJP support.

Raut Challenges Fadnavis’ Assembly Statement

The Rajya Sabha MP also accused CM Devendra Fadnavis of misleading the state assembly by denying the existence of any honeytrap-related blackmail case. “His claim that no such case has come to light is simply untrue,” said Raut.

The allegations appear to align with similar concerns recently voiced by Congress MLA Nana Patole, who demanded a statement from the government regarding a suspected honeytrap racket targeting officials in Thane, Nashik, and Mumbai’s Mantralaya. Patole claimed he had a pen drive containing evidence.

Raut himself claimed that four pen drives and two CDs linked to the case are currently under examination by police.

BJP Ministers Respond: “Show Proof or Stop Making Noise”

Responding to the allegations, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule urged Raut to present any material evidence publicly. “He should not be afraid. If he truly has documents or proof, he must come forward,” said Bawankule, calling the claims a “cheap attempt to stay relevant.”

The BJP leader accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) — a coalition of the Congress, NCP (SP), and Shiv Sena (UBT) — of creating distractions after being ousted from power. “They couldn’t even save their MLAs and MPs. Now they’re spreading lies,” he said.

Bawankule further rejected the claim that any minister involved in the alleged Nashik honeytrap case had traveled to Guwahati, where the Shinde faction had assembled during the 2022 defection drama.

Mahajan: ‘Photos Don’t Prove Crimes’

BJP cabinet minister Girish Mahajan also took strong exception to Raut’s remarks, labelling them as “foolish and irresponsible.”

Raut had earlier cited a photo of Mahajan with Praful Lodha, a controversial Jalgaon politician facing criminal charges, as alleged proof of shady dealings. Mahajan dismissed the link outright, pointing out that Lodha had taken photographs with leaders from various parties — including Sharad Pawar, Uddhav Thackeray, Supriya Sule, and Prakash Ambedkar, among others.

“A photo with someone does not mean you are complicit in their crimes,” said Mahajan. “Raut’s habit of throwing around baseless accusations without proof is becoming reckless.”

Political Fallout and the Road Ahead

Raut’s sensational claims have added fuel to an already charged political atmosphere in Maharashtra, as all parties gear up for the 2025 state elections. The allegations, though not yet substantiated with concrete evidence, may push the government to address concerns over official misconduct, cyber surveillance, and exploitation through honeytrapping tactics.

Whether these claims will evolve into a full-blown investigation or remain a political slugfest ahead of crucial polls remains to be seen.

#SanjayRaut #HoneytrapScandal #MaharashtraPolitics #EknathShinde #DevendraFadnavis #BJPvsShivSena #MVA #NashikHoneytrap #PenDriveEvidence #PoliticalControversy #GirishMahajan #PrafulLodha #Thane #Mantralaya #MaharashtraAssembly #OppositionDemands #IndianPolitics #MaharashtraNews #UddhavThackeray #MonsoonSession2025 #RautVsBJP