Goa Health Minister Vishwajit Rane on Wednesday said that the audio which the Congress claimed was of him saying that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has kept files on the Rafale deal in his bedroom was doctored..

A major controversy erupted today after the Congress alleged that the Goa CM has the files related to the fighter jet deal between India and France in his bedroom. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala also produced an audio recording in which two voices can be heard speaking on the Rafale row. One of the voices, the Congress alleged, was of Rane.

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Speaking to reporters in Panaji, Rane said that he was being played as a pawn in a power game between the ruling and opposition parties.

He said that he has requested the Goa CM to probe the source of the audio conversation with help from Central agencies.

“The audio which is going viral is doctored. The CM should direct the DGP to probe this… There was never a point of time when Manohar Parrikar talked about Rafale,” Rane said.

“They (Congress) are trying to sensationalise Rafale. Central agencies should probe so that these things can come out. There is no question of discussing this subject,” Rane added.

The minister, who was a former Congress leader, also wrote a letter to Parrikar urging him to take action in the matter.

“At no point of time there has been a discussion between me and any other individual,” he wrote.

“There is someone playing mischief…such mischievous elements need to be brought to the books,” he added.

Rane also said that he would not file a police complaint vis-a-vis the alleged doctoring of the audio.

“I have asked Amit Shah to rope in a national agency to please check the audio. I am willing to give any kind of explanation if asked for because this is something which is mischievously planned and planted to target me and destabilize the government,” he said.

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala released the audio of a telephonic conversation allegedly between Rane and another person whose identity was kept anonymous in which Rane is heard saying that Parrikar, during a Cabinet meeting, had said that he had files related to the Rafale deal in the bedroom of his private residence where he is currently recuperating.

Read More: Congress claims Rafale files are in Manohar Parrikar’s bedroom

Parrikar had earlier today denied holding any discussion on Rafale in any such meeting adding that the tape was a desperate attempt by Congress to fabricate facts after “their lies were exposed by the Supreme Court verdict” on the fighter jet deal.

Read More | Audio clip desperate attempt by Congress to fabricate facts: Manohar Parrikar

(With inputs from agencies.)