Archive · 23 Aug 2026
Fadnavis Orders Probe Into Foreign Funding Claims at Pune Event
Maharashtra’s chief minister has ordered an investigation into claims about money used for a student event involving Rahul Gandhi.
The event was planned in Pune for female students.
A BJP spokesperson alleged that students were offered money to attend.
He also questioned whether some of the money came from foreign sources.
He estimated that bringing about 3,000 people could cost up to Rs 10 crore.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the programme was mainly a political relaunch event.
He also alleged that influencers were paid and that a campus disturbance was created for publicity.
The article does not report a response from the Congress to these allegations.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an investigation into allegations of foreign funding tied to Rahul Gandhi’s Pune programme.
BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban alleged students were offered Rs 30,000 to Rs 35,000 each to attend the event.
Ban estimated that mobilising about 3,000 people could cost Rs 9-10 crore and demanded clarification on the money’s source.
Fadnavis alleged the programme was designed to relaunch Rahul Gandhi and that many attendees came from Congress-managed institutions.
The BJP also alleged payments to influencers and a deliberately created campus disturbance, claims that were not accompanied by a Congress response in the article.
- Who
- Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the probe after allegations by BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban concerning a Congress programme involving Rahul Gandhi.
- What
- An investigation was ordered into allegations that students and influencers were paid to attend the Pune event and that foreign or diverted funds may have been used.
- When
- The order was reported on Saturday; the event was scheduled for Saturday evening, following an alleged campus disturbance on Friday night.
- Where
- The programme was scheduled in Pune, Maharashtra, with allegations also involving the College of Engineering Pune campus.
- Why
- The probe was sought over claims about alleged payments, the source of event funding, possible foreign funding, and alleged political mobilisation.
BJP and Maharashtra Government Allegations
Congress Event Framing
Purpose of the programme
BJP and Maharashtra Government Allegations
Devendra Fadnavis described the event as an event-management exercise intended to politically relaunch Rahul Gandhi rather than primarily serve students.
Congress Event Framing
The programme was presented as “Chhatron Ki Goonj,” an event dedicated to female students; the article does not report a Congress response to the BJP’s allegations.
Attendance and payments
BJP and Maharashtra Government Allegations
Navnath Ban and Fadnavis alleged that students and social media influencers were paid to attend, with many students allegedly brought from Congress-managed educational institutions.
Congress Event Framing
The article provides no Congress explanation or denial regarding attendance arrangements or alleged payments.
Funding sources
BJP and Maharashtra Government Allegations
The BJP sought scrutiny of whether the money came from foreign sources, contractors’ commissions, black money, cash payments, or other channels.
Congress Event Framing
The article does not report a Congress response about the source or method of the alleged funding.
- Investigation ordered by
- Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra chief minister
- Event
- “Chhatron Ki Goonj,” a programme dedicated to female students
- Location
- Pune, Maharashtra
- Alleged student payment
- Rs 30,000-Rs 35,000 per student
- Estimated mobilisation
- About 3,000 people
- Estimated expenditure
- Rs 9-10 crore, according to Navnath Ban
- Additional allegations
- Payments to influencers, possible foreign funding, and a deliberately created campus disturbance