Maharashtra MLA Sanjay Shirsat, representing Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, has addressed the controversy following the viral video of him smoking a cigarette next to what seems to be a bag filled with cash in his bedroom. The footage, which surfaced late Wednesday, ignited a political uproar, particularly after Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut asserted that it validated his previous allegations of corruption within the Shinde faction. In the video, Shirsat is depicted casually seated on a bed, smoking, with a sizable bag beside him. This bag has prompted online speculation, with opposition leaders claiming it holds illegal cash.

In a sharp rebuttal, Shirsat rejected the accusations. “I viewed the video myself through a friend from your channel,” the minister informed reporters. “What does it depict? It shows my home, my bedroom. I am on my bed, my cherished dog is beside me, and there’s a bag nearby. So what? Does this indicate I’m hoarding cash?”

Dismissing the cash bag narrative, Shirsat clarified that it contained clothing from a recent trip. “I had just come back from traveling. I placed my bag on the bed after unpacking my clothes. If I truly intended to conceal bundles of cash, do you think I would leave it on the bed? Are the cupboards in my house non-functional or broken?” he questioned sarcastically. “If I had cash, I would have securely stored it in a wardrobe.”

Criticizing his opponents, Shirsat stated, “These individuals see nothing but cash everywhere. Previously, they alleged that Eknath Shinde’s security guards were carrying bags of money as well. They assume that if there’s a bag, it must contain cash. They can’t even fathom that people travel and pack clothes.”

He also downplayed worries that the leaked video could jeopardize his political future. “Such theatrics will not impact my career. If someone filmed a video inside my home, so be it—I have nothing to conceal. I don’t manage my home like ‘Matoshree’ with closed doors. Anyone can enter; there’s no secrecy,” he remarked.