A Mumbai-based designer was arrested on Thursday after Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleged that the woman tried to bribe her with Rs 1 crore seeking her “intervention” in a criminal case.
The designer, identified as Aniksha Jaisinghani, has been arrested while the search is on for the other accused Anil Jaisinghani, her father and a bookie, ANI reported quoting Mumbai Police.
Deputy CM’s wife, Amruta Fadnavis, lodged a complaint at the Malabar Hill Police Station after receiving calls and messages from the designer.
#UPDATE | Mumbai police arrested the designer Aniksha following a complaint by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis. Police is searching for the second accused (Anil Jaisinghani: Mumbai police pic.twitter.com/O2aMqPMYJA— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2023
Why Amruta Fadnavis Filed FIR Against the Designer?
Aniksha was in touch with Amruta Fadnavis for over 16 months and visited her residence. In her statement to the police, Amruta said she first met Aniksha in November 2021.
Aniksha claimed that she was a designer of clothes, jewellery and footwear and requested the deputy CM’s wife to wear them at public events saying it would help her promote the products, said a police official from Malabar Hill police station.
Aniksha allegedly told Amruta that her mother was no more and she was taking care of her family’s finances, the official said.
After gaining Amruta’s trust, Aniksha offered to provide her with information on some bookies through which, she claimed, they could make money, the official said. She then directly offered Amruta Rs 1 crore to get her father off the hook in a police case, said the official.
Amruta told the police that she was upset by Aniksha’s behaviour and blocked her number, the official said.
The woman then allegedly sent Amruta video clips, voice notes and many messages from an unknown number. She and her father indirectly threatened and conspired against Amruta, said the official citing the FIR.
Deputy CM Fadnavis’ Clarification in Assembly
Speaking on the issue, Devendra Fadnavis said, “My wife has filed an FIR. She has said in it that some people used her to pressurise me. Anil Jaisinghani is a person absconding and has cases against him. His daughter used to meet Amruta in 2015-16. Later it stopped. She again started meeting Amruta in 2021 saying she is a designer. She gained Amruta’s trust by telling many stories and even claimed to have published one book.”
His reply came after the Leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar sought clarification from him in the state Legislative Assembly. The deputy chief minister further alleged that Jaisinghani’s daughter offered Amruta a few designer clothes.
The deputy CM told the House, “After the change of government, the designer spoke about her contacts with bookies. She claimed that she would share information and after the authorities conducted raids, she would get money from both parties.” The designer hinted that if the cases are not withdrawn, she could implicate him (Devendra Fadnavis), said the deputy chief minister.
The police have registered a case against Aniksha and her father under Section 120 (B) (conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 8 and 12 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. Section 8 relates to using corrupt and illegal means to “induce” a public servant, Section 12 is for abetment.
(With PTI inputs)
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