• Source:JND
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Sanjay Shirsat, Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader and Maharashtra Minister, received a notice from the Income Tax department. Confirming the report, Shirsat on Thursday said he got the notice, which sought an explanation of the increase in his assets between the 2019 and 2024 assembly elections. The development opened a gate for the criticism by the Opposition leaders over the corruption. 

Shirsat, who holds the Minister for Social Justice portfolio, said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's son, Kalyan MP Shrikant Shinde, had also got a notice. However, the Aurangabad (West) MLA later corrected himself, saying he had no idea about Shrikant receiving any Income Tax notice.

Nothing Wrong Has Been Done: Sanjay Shirsat

He claimed that some people had filed a complaint against him with the Income Tax department, based on which a notice was served on him.

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"I was supposed to respond on Wednesday, but I requested more time. I will give a proper response. Nothing wrong has been done," the minister said, when asked by reporters about a viral video which showed him talking about the I-T notice.

The notice was about the rise in his declared assets between two elections, he said.

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The minister said people think no action is taken against political leaders, but this is not the case. The Shiv Sena leader asserted he would reply to the notice legally.

When Shirsat was asked if he suspected any conspiracy against him, the minister said some people complained and the Income Tax department took action on this as per procedure.

The minister said the system is doing its work and he has no problem with it, asserting he is not under any pressure.

U-Turn On Eknath Shinde's Son

Shirsat said, "Income Tax Department scans everyone. Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde and I got notices. One must respond to the Income Tax Department. I was asked to submit a reply by July 9. I have asked for time, and we will submit a reply. We will face any inquiry. It's not anything political, and no one is trying to pressure us... I will not say that Shiv Sena is being suppressed. If anyone gets a notice, it means that the agency is doing its work." However, he returned about 20 minutes later to speak with reporters and claimed to have been misrepresented.

"I was here to inform about the I-T notice issued to me. Someone asked me a leading question about whether Shrikant Shinde also received a notice and is it part of political vendetta. However, my response was presented as I am informing people about Shinde receiving a notice. I want to clarify that I have no idea about whether the I-T department has issued a notice to Shinde," Shirsat said.

Earlier in the day, a video clip of a speech made by Shirsat at an event in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar where he spoke about an I-T notice went viral.

(With PTI inputs)