Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has made serious allegations concerning a covert meeting between Uddhav Thackeray, the party’s chief, and a member of the Gupta family during Thackeray’s recent visit to Delhi. Nirupam’s claims have sparked controversy and raised questions about the nature of the meeting.
In a statement released today, Nirupam criticized the secrecy surrounding the meeting, which was not publicly disclosed despite Thackeray’s high-profile visit to meet leaders of the INDIA Alliance. “It was publicly announced that Uddhav Thackeray went to Delhi to meet the leaders of the INDIA Alliance,” Nirupam said. “The meetings he had with all the leaders were publicized widely. But one meeting was kept secret, and that was with a member of the Gupta family.”
The Gupta family, originally from South Africa, has been embroiled in scandal and legal issues. Nirupam pointed out that the Guptas were involved in major corruption scandals in South Africa, leading to their absconding in 2018. The controversy surrounding them led to the ousting of South Africa’s then-President Jacob Zuma, who was removed from his position and party over his association with the Guptas. Currently, two Gupta brothers are fugitives with Interpol red corner notices against them and are believed to be in Dubai, while the third brother, Ajay Gupta, is reportedly in India.
Ajay Gupta, according to Nirupam, is also implicated in the suicide case of businessman Baba Sahni in Uttarakhand, and has been out on bail since July 11. Nirupam questioned why Thackeray would meet such a controversial figure discreetly and whether there was any ulterior motive behind the meeting.
“Why did Uddhav Thackeray meet such a person discreetly? Did he want money from Ajay Gupta for the upcoming elections?” Nirupam asked, raising concerns about the possible implications of this secret meeting.
The allegations have intensified scrutiny of Thackeray’s political dealings and have added a new layer of controversy to his recent political engagements. As the situation develops, it is expected that further inquiries and statements from the involved parties will shed more light on the nature of the meeting and the allegations being made.
