ATS probing use of terror funds in elections: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is probing the use of terror funds in the recent assembly polls and asserted there was “evidence of foreign interference in Indian elections”.

Fadnavis referred to a case being probed in Malegaon in the state’s Nashik district as well as a meeting held in Nepal which deliberated on the removal of EVMs and the need for ballot papers in the elections.

Speaking in the Assembly, Fadnavis said the Opposition used all means to win the state elections. He emphasised he was not questioning the Opposition's patriotism, but they should realise to whom they were lending their shoulders to create unrest in the country.

“To win elections, vote jihad was spoken about. Seventeen demands were given to you and you keep quiet. This year, in Malegaon, some youth complained to police about Rs 114 crore in benami money being deposited into their accounts. The accused, Siraj Mohammad, used Aadhaar and PAN details of 14 individuals to create 14 accounts in Nashik Merchants Cooperative Bank in Malegaon," the CM told the House.

The money deposited in this manner was then diverted to Siraj Mohammad and 21 other accounts, he said, adding the case was not restricted to Malegon but was spread across 21 states with 201 accounts seeing transactions to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore.

Of this, Rs 600 crore was sent to Dubai and Rs 100 crore was used for different purposes in the Maharashtra elections, Fadnavis said.

“The ATS is probing it as part of terror funding. There was evidence of foreign interference in the Indian elections. The Opposition is allowing their shoulders to be used by someone else,” Fadnavis said.