Fadnavis had told police to file fake harassment case: Khadse

MUMBAI: Maharashtra leader Eknath Khadse on Wednesday lashed out at Devendra Fadnavis after quitting the BJP and claimed that the former chief minister instructed the police to implicate him in a "false" harassment case.

Talking about how he "suffered" in the BJP, Khadse said, "The then CM (Devendra Fadnavis) instructed police to register FIR against me on false allegation of harassment by a woman. He said the case would be withdrawn later. Inquiries for corruption was initiated against me in which I came clean."

Khadse had been sulking ever since he was made to resign as a minister in 2016 in the then Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP government over corruption allegations.

Earlier in the day, state minister Jayant Patil said that Khadse will join the ruling NCP on Friday.

Targeting the BJP over Khadse's resignation, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said the party should think why its foundation stones are coming off when it is reaching the pinnacle of success.

Talking to reporters, Thackeray said Khadse is "definitely welcome" to the family of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.