Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Thursday rubbished media reports claiming that the controversial Indian Revenue Services (IRS) officer Sameer Wankhede would be making his eletoral debut in the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.
It was being speculated that Wankhede might contest the polls on a Shiv Sena ticket from Dharavi in Mumbai. However, Shiv Sena clarified that these speculations are a "work of fiction" and "pure conjecture".
"The news reports about Sameer Wankhede contesting the upcoming Maharashtra assembly election from Dharavi or any other seat, on a Shiv Sena ticket are pure conjecture and a work of fiction. There is no such proposal before the party,
Shiv Sena sources told news agency ANI.
The ex-Mumbai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau has been in the headlines for arresting Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan's son Aryan Khan from a cruise in a drugs-related case. He has also been under the scanner for various alleged financial and procedural irregularities.
Wankhede was also caught under the Enforcement Directorate's net after the probe agency opened a money laundering case against the him in connection with the bribery charges. The ED booked the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The Central Bureau of Investigaion (CBI) had also registered a case against Wankhede, charging him with corruption. The central probe agency alleged that the IRS officer ha demanded a bribe of Rs 25 crore from Shahrukh Khan in exchange of his son's release from jail. However, he had denied these allegations.
Voting for all the 288 assembly seats in Maharashtra will take place in a single phase on November 20. The results will be declared on November 23.
The key contenders in the Maharashtra elections are the ruling Mahayuti Alliance, which includes the Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition, which consists of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), and Congress.