A major political storm erupted in Maharashtra on Wednesday after the Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) claimed to have discovered ₹5 crore in cash at a government guest house in Dhule, allegedly meant to bribe members of the state assembly’s Estimates Committee led by Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar.

Speaking to the media, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said party workers found the cash stash in Room No. 102 of the guest house, reportedly booked under the name of Kishor Patil, an assistant to Khotkar. “Our leaders locked the room where the money was kept and immediately informed the police. But shockingly, the police did not register the complaint right away and arrived hours later,” Raut alleged.

He demanded that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launch an investigation into the incident and called for the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to take charge of the probe. “This is a serious matter involving potential misuse of public funds. The government must act swiftly,” Raut added.

According to Shiv Sena (UBT), the cash was discovered just ahead of a scheduled visit by the Estimates Committee to review fund utilisation in Dhule. Former MLA Anil Gote and other local leaders reportedly played a key role in discovering the suspicious money.

While the local police confirmed that cash had been seized, they refrained from confirming the exact amount. An official said, “We have sealed the room and begun investigation. The matter is under inquiry.”

Arjun Khotkar, meanwhile, denied any link to the cash and suggested foul play. “These allegations are baseless. The committee has no connection to the money. It seems this cash was planted to malign our image. I demand an investigation to find out who did this,” he said.

Reacting to the controversy, senior BJP leader and MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar expressed concern over the allegations and said, “This is a serious issue. If true, it undermines the credibility of legislative committees. An impartial probe is essential to uncover the truth and restore public trust.”