Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], February 27 (HBTV): The Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai Police has launched investigations against the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) faction in connection with an alleged cheating and forgery case, officials said on Tuesday.  

According to the Mumbai Police, the investigation was initiated against the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction after the Eknath Shinde-led party filed a complaint alleging that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena group withdrew INR 50 crore from the party’s fund even after the Election Commission of India (EC) had declared the Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena.  

Earlier, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena met with Mumbai police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar to lodge a police complaint for cheating and forgery against the rival faction claiming misuse of the party's PAN and TAN details. It also alleged fraudulent filing of the TDS and Income Tax returns of the Shiv Sena. 

The EOW has written to the Income Tax Department seeking information regarding who is paying the tax of the UBT faction, the Mumbai Police said.  

The Mumbai Police said the EOW had begun a probe after the Eknath Shinde faction complained against the UBT faction alleging that the UBT faction had withdrawn INR 50 crore from the party’s fund even after the EC had declared the Shinde faction the real Shiv Sena.    

The EOW has also written to the Income Tax Department seeking information regarding who is paying the tax of the UBT faction, the Mumbai Police said.   

On February 17, 2023, the EC recognized the Eknath Shinde faction as the "real" Shiv Sena, nearly eight months after his rebellion split the parent party into two factions. 

The election body had also announced that Shinde's team will get the 'bow-and-arrow' symbol, the original symbol of the party. After the coup, the EC had frozen the party’s symbol and allotted the 'two swords and shield' symbol to Shinde and the flaming torch symbol to the Uddhav Thackeray camp.    

The two factions had staked claim to the party’s symbol and name. They had approached the doors of courts and the election body.

(ANI) This is a syndicated news feed. HBTV has edited it for brevity and clarity.