Sindhudurg: In a shocking revelation, Nilesh Rane, son of former Maharashtra chief minister Narayan Rane, has alleged that late Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray had hatched a plot to kill famous Bollywood singer Sonu Nigam.
According to reports, Rane also claimed that Balasaheb was responsible for Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe’s death.
Reports claim that Rane alleges that the cause of Dighe’s death was hushed up in a hospital. Balasaheb also allegedly tried to have two Shiv Sainiks who were upset with Rane’s death, killed.
Nilesh Rane was referring to a challenge that Vinayak Raut of Shiv Sena apparently threw at the Ranes while speaking at a Shiv Sena meet in Ratnagiri.
“We have never said anything wrong about Balasaheb while in politics. But when somebody is making filthy allegations against my father, then I have to reveal to you something about Balasaheb too,” said Nilesh Rane while hitting out at Shiv Sena.
“Balasaheb wanted to get Sonu Nigam killed. The attempt was made by Shiv Sainiks by the orders of Balasaheb. Do not force me to tell you what was the relationship between the Thackeray family and Sonu Nigam,” added Nilesh Rane.
“Who hatched the plot to murder Anand Dighe? I will tell everything during public meetings but do not force me to do this,” he added.
“Jayadev Thackeray revealed only half the truth in the court. Do not force me to reveal what Jayadev Thackeray has said. If I tell the public about it, you can forget about the Bal Thackeray memorial. No Thackeray family member will continue to get any respect. People will not allow this monument to happen.”
“We know our limitations. But Vinayak Raut has crossed the limits and that is why I have to speak. (My father) Narayan Rane’s love for Balasaheb has not reduced even today. But he could never tell this thing,” said Rane.
Nilesh Rane’s father Narayan Rane who was a former Shiv Sena member, and also served as chief minister of Maharashtra for a brief period was expelled by Uddhav Thackeray in 2005.
After the expulsion, Narayan Rane joined the Congress party and was with the party from 2005 to 2017.
Narayan Rane, his son Nilesh Rane and Narayan’s other son Nitesh Rane are the founder members of Maharashtra Swabhimaan Paksh, which was established in 2017.
Nilesh Rane was elected to the 15th Lok Sabha (Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency) on an Indian National Congress (INC) party ticket and lost the 16th Lok Sabha to Shiv Sena’s Vinayak Raut.
Rane came out with allegations against the Late Bal Thackeray, as a reaction to Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut’s statement, “Who killed those nine people in Narayan Rane’s 10 years of political life? If you have the courage, Narayan Rane should answer it.”
