Ambegaon (Pune), July 13: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA and former Maharashtra Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Sunday firmly denied allegations linking him to the ongoing milk adulteration case in Ambegaon taluka, asserting that he is neither the "mastermind" behind the issue nor someone who would protect those involved in wrongdoing.

Speaking at the Jan Samvad programme organised by the Ambegaon-Shirur unit of the NCP at Shivgiri Mangal Karyalaya in Manchar, Walse Patil said that although one of the accused may be associated with him politically, he would never support anyone found guilty of milk adulteration.

"I am not the mastermind behind this case. In fact, there is no mastermind. I will never defend or shield anyone involved in milk adulteration," he said while responding to allegations made by political opponents.

Walse Patil said it would be inappropriate to comment further until the official investigation is completed and a chargesheet is filed against those responsible.

"The probe is still underway. Until the investigation is complete and charges are formally framed, it is not proper for me to make detailed comments on the matter," he said.

He accused the opposition of using the milk adulteration issue as a political tool rather than genuinely working for the welfare of farmers.

"You know whether this agitation is for farmers' interests or merely a conspiracy against me," he remarked.

The senior NCP leader also criticised the increasing use of fake social media accounts to defame political leaders and urged party workers to respond strongly to misinformation and propaganda.

Without directly naming local leader Devdatta Nikam, Walse Patil questioned his claims of working for farmers and raised issues regarding cooperative institutions and temple administration.

Several senior NCP leaders, including Pune MHADA Chairman Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil, district president Rajendra Korekar, and other party office-bearers, were present at the event.

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