The Crossbill News Desk
Allegations surrounding the use of investigative agencies in India’s political landscape have resurfaced, this time through claims made by Sanjay Raut in his forthcoming English book Unlikely Paradise.
The book, originally written in Marathi during his time in prison, is set to release in an expanded edition with additional accounts that question the functioning of institutions and the pressures within the political system.
According to excerpts reported by The Times of India, Raut has suggested that former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down in 2025 not merely for health reasons, as officially stated, but under pressure linked to actions by the Enforcement Directorate.
The claim connects this alleged pressure to what Raut describes as Dhankhar’s independent political positioning.
“When whispers emerged of Dhankhar’s independent political moves against the Modi government, ED reportedly presented him with the file, pressuring him to resign,” the book stated, as quoted by TOI.
“His refusal to comply initially led to intensified scrutiny, leaving him visibly uneasy.”
Raut’s account also revisits the trajectory of former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, alleging that dissent within constitutional bodies invited institutional backlash.
He wrote, “Based on complaints citing eight breaches of the Election Code of India, Lavasa initiated action to restore public trust in the ECI. Despite advice to remain silent, he refused to yield to pressure. Predictably, Lavasa and his family faced severe repercussions for his dissent.”
The book further claims that investigative actions against Lavasa’s family “compelled his resignation” in 2020.
These assertions come from a political figure who himself has faced central agency scrutiny. Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2022 in connection with the Patra Chawl redevelopment case and later released on bail, consistently denying any wrongdoing. His narrative, therefore, is likely to be read both as a personal account and a political critique.
The broader context of these claims lies in Maharashtra’s shifting political landscape. The collapse of the long-standing alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena after the 2019 elections led to the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi under Uddhav Thackeray. That government was later brought down following the 2022 rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, which split the party and reshaped the state’s political equations.
In this light, Unlikely Paradise does more than narrate events; it attempts to frame a larger argument about power, dissent, and institutional autonomy. Whether these claims withstand scrutiny or are dismissed as politically motivated will depend on how they are engaged with in the public domain.
What is certain, however, is that such assertions will reignite debate on the role of investigative agencies and the boundaries between governance and political contestation in contemporary India.
The book, originally written in Marathi during his time in prison, is set to release in an expanded edition with additional accounts that question the functioning of institutions and the pressures within the political system.
According to excerpts reported by The Times of India, Raut has suggested that former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped down in 2025 not merely for health reasons, as officially stated, but under pressure linked to actions by the Enforcement Directorate.
The claim connects this alleged pressure to what Raut describes as Dhankhar’s independent political positioning.
“When whispers emerged of Dhankhar’s independent political moves against the Modi government, ED reportedly presented him with the file, pressuring him to resign,” the book stated, as quoted by TOI.
“His refusal to comply initially led to intensified scrutiny, leaving him visibly uneasy.”
Raut’s account also revisits the trajectory of former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, alleging that dissent within constitutional bodies invited institutional backlash.
He wrote, “Based on complaints citing eight breaches of the Election Code of India, Lavasa initiated action to restore public trust in the ECI. Despite advice to remain silent, he refused to yield to pressure. Predictably, Lavasa and his family faced severe repercussions for his dissent.”
The book further claims that investigative actions against Lavasa’s family “compelled his resignation” in 2020.
These assertions come from a political figure who himself has faced central agency scrutiny. Raut was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in 2022 in connection with the Patra Chawl redevelopment case and later released on bail, consistently denying any wrongdoing. His narrative, therefore, is likely to be read both as a personal account and a political critique.
The broader context of these claims lies in Maharashtra’s shifting political landscape. The collapse of the long-standing alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena after the 2019 elections led to the formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi under Uddhav Thackeray. That government was later brought down following the 2022 rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, which split the party and reshaped the state’s political equations.
In this light, Unlikely Paradise does more than narrate events; it attempts to frame a larger argument about power, dissent, and institutional autonomy. Whether these claims withstand scrutiny or are dismissed as politically motivated will depend on how they are engaged with in the public domain.
What is certain, however, is that such assertions will reignite debate on the role of investigative agencies and the boundaries between governance and political contestation in contemporary India.
Comments (0)
Leave a Comment