Honey trap row: BJP minister Girish Mahajan hits back, shares photo of rival Eknath Khadse with accused Praful Lodha

MUMBAI: BJP state cabinet minister from North Maharashtra, Girish Mahajan on Thursday released a series of photos of various leaders with Praful Lodha, an accused in the honey trap case.

Mahajan first released pictures of MLC Eknath Khadse with Lodha. Both Mahajan and Khadse hail from North Maharashtra and are bitter political rivals. Last week Khadse speaking to the media had highlighted Lodha's proximity to Mahajan after the latter was arrested in the honey trap case. Khadse had demanded an SIT investigation. Mahajan hit back saying Lodha had accused Khadse of killing his own son.

Releasing the pictures on social media, Mahajan said, "Eknath Khadse with whom are you holding rosy talks? What does one call this relationship? Your conspiracy is being exposed before the public.... This is the same Praful Lodha whom you called a drunkard? This is the same Lodha who has accused you of killing your son."

In another post he put out pictures of senior NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Baramati MP Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil with Lodha. "After the honey trap episode despite there being no relation merely on the basis of some pictures some people took the lead to link me with Praful Lodha. Their own party leaders __ Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, Uddhav Thackeray, Jayant Patil__have several pictures with Praful Lodha. What is their relationship with Praful Lodha?" asked Mahajan.

He went to further say that during their govt's tenure several criminal cases were filed against him. "Is that why they had joined hands with Praful Lodha? "