SIT headed by Shailesh Balkawade to probe Jarange's Rs 500 crore audio clip

The audio clip linked to Manoj Jarange Patil and a sum of Rs 500 crore was widely discussed last week. It stirred state politics, set off a war of words between the Shinde Sena and the BJP, and new claims and counter-claims about the clip are emerging every day.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has now constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter. The team will establish whether the audio clip is genuine or fake, and whether it was created using AI. The government has entrusted the task to an IPS officer.

The state government has formed the SIT under Additional Commissioner of Police Shailesh Balkawade. It has three members. The inquiry will examine who sent the clip to whom, what the truth about it is, and whose voice is heard in it.

Besides Balkawade, the team includes Deputy Commissioners of Police Vijaykant Sagar and Bajrang Bansode. All eyes are now on whom the team questions and whether the case takes a new turn. For now, Jarange Patil's Rs 500 crore allegations are the subject of a major controversy in the state.

Balkawade also has a connection with Antarwali Sarati. Three years ago, a hunger strike for Maratha reservation was under way at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district. A lathi-charge was alleged during that period and the agitation flared up. Tushar Doshi was then sent on compulsory leave, and Balkawade was made the district's Superintendent of Police in his place.

Balkawade is a 2010-batch IPS officer and is currently serving as Additional Commissioner of Police in Mumbai Police. He has been Superintendent of Police in Gondia, Nagpur Rural and Kolhapur. Earlier, he served for two years in the Naxal-affected Gadchiroli area.

As Superintendent of Police in Gadchiroli, he did outstanding work in anti-Naxal operations. He was posted to Jalna as Superintendent of Police after the Maratha agitation flared up there. He has also served in Nagpur city and Ahilyanagar.