Mumbai: All allegations baseless, says Yashwant Jadhav on alleged discrepancies in wife’s election affidavit

The I-T department may submit its findings to the Election Commission and seek her disqualification, which can become a major embarrassment for the ruling Shiv Sena.

A day after the Income Tax (I-T) Department reportedly found discrepancies in the election affidavit filed by Shiv Sena legislator Yamini Jadhav for 2019 Assembly polls, her husband and Sena leader Yashwant Jadhav said the allegations were politically motivated ahead of BMC election. He added they have not received any communication from any central agency so far. The Shiv Sena has maintained silence on the issue.

Yashwant Jadhav

The I-T department may submit its findings to the Election Commission and seek her disqualification, which can become a major embarrassment for the ruling Shiv Sena. The I-T Department has found that a Kolkata-based shell company was used to launder ₹15 crore by Jadhavs. The findings showed that as per the affidavit filed by the candidate, she availed an unsecured loan including one from Pradhan Dealers Pvt Ltd of ₹1 crore. The department said Pradhan Dealers was found to be a shell company run and controlled from Kolkata by entry operators.

Yashwant Jadhav, who is the standing committee chairman in Sena-controlled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), said it was a political conspiracy to defame Jadhav and him ahead of BMC elections. He added that they would speak to authorities if contacted.

“So far, we have not got any notice from any agency, nor have they contacted us. If the agencies get in touch, we will speak to them. This is a political conspiracy against my wife and me. All allegations against us are baseless. We are not connected to any shell companies as claimed. All our transactions are clean,” he said.

This issue is expected to become another point of clash between Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of BMC polls in February 2022.

Jadhav is another Sena legislator who is in the cross hairs of central agencies after Pratap Sarnaik, who faced inquiry by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Earlier, the BJP had attempted to target minister Anil Parab, who is considered close to Sena chief and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

When asked about the allegations against Jadhav, Sena chief spokesperson Arvind Sawant said he was unaware of the issue.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya launched an attack on the Jadhavs and Sena saying they laundered money through companies located in United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“I want to directly ask Yamini and Yashwant Jadhav if they will speak on their financial dealings with Pradhan Dealers Pvt Ltd. The Jadhav family has transferred money to two companies in UAE. But this money was deposited in their accounts by Pradhan Dealers, a Kolkata-based company,” Somaiya said in a press conference in Mumbai.

Reacting to the allegations, Yashwant said, “This is politically motivated as BMC elections are approaching soon. Byculla seat was won for the first time by Yamini and this is a conspiracy to defame both of us.” When asked if the party has sought any explanation from them over the allegations, he said, “There is no question of being questioned by the party as the leadership knows that we will not indulge in anything illegal.”

Despite repeated attempts, Jadhav could not be contacted. Yashwant said, “She is attending to her ailing mother, who is in a critical condition.”