Viral Video Of Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat With 'Cash Bags' Sparks ₹50 Crore Allegations, IT Heat

Maharashtra’s Social Justice Minister Sanjay Shirsat is once again in hot water after a video showing him with two large travel bags went viral, sparking fresh allegations of corruption and political misconduct. The controversy comes close on the heels of the Hotel Vites tender scam and an Income Tax (IT) notice issued to him over a dramatic spike in his declared assets.

In the now-viral video, Shirsat is seen sitting casually in a bedroom, dressed in a vest (banian), with two travel bags nearby. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the bags contained ₹50 crore, which they claim was used to engineer the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena.

Posting the video on social media platform X, UBT MP Sanjay Raut tagged Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding attention to the matter.

Shindes men on radar. Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat’s video surfaced where half opened bag with bundle of notes lying near his bed. Shirsat confirmed the authenticity of this video. Shirsat also facing inquiry in purchase of hotel at Rs 65 Cr against mkt rate of Rs120 Cr. pic.twitter.com/KW5CeiPMeu

— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) July 11, 2025

“I feel pity for Devendra Fadnavis! How many more times will he watch his reputation being torn apart? Helplessness has another name: Fadnavis,” Raut posted.

UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray escalated the attack, saying, “For the last two-and-a-half years, the betrayal of the Shiv Sena has made headlines in 33 countries. Out of the alleged '50 khoke (crores)', maybe one box is now visible. These videos are circulating everywhere.”

He mocked what he anticipated would be a weak defense from the minister. “Soon they will claim the bags contained vests with Mahatma Gandhi's image. But what’s clearly visible is a cabinet minister sitting next to suspicious bags.”

Aaditya also raised concerns over other allegations against Shirsat—including land grabbing, manipulated hotel tenders, and now a notice from the IT Department.

“Will the gang’s boss, ‘Bhrashtnath Mindhe’ (a dig at CM Eknath Shinde), take action? Of course not. The IT notice came too late, and now we’ll see whether he gets a clean chit or if the BJP actually acts.”

Responding to the media in Mumbai, Minister Shirsat called the allegations "ridiculous" and claimed the video was being misinterpreted. “The room in the video is my own house. I’m sitting in my bedroom, with my pet dog next to me. The bags seen in the video were from my travels—they only contained clothes.”

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He questioned the logic behind the allegations: “If I had to hide ₹50 crore, why would I keep it in open travel bags? Don’t I have cupboards in my house?” Shirsat dismissed UBT leaders' remarks with sharp words, particularly targeting Sanjay Raut: “Raut barks on schedule every day—morning, noon, and night—it’s all about Eknath Shinde for him. Losing power has made him restless.”

The viral video surfaced just one day after reports emerged that Shirsat had received an Income Tax notice regarding a tenfold increase in his declared assets—from ₹3.3 crore in 2019 to ₹35 crore in 2024. Shirsat told reporters on Thursday that he had sought more time to respond to the notice. The timing of the video has fueled suspicions of a larger pattern of financial irregularities.