The opposition in Maldives had demanded $6 million from India to impeach President Mohammed Muizzu. This claim has been made in a report by the American newspaper The Washington Post.

The report claimed that this amount was sought as financial help to carry out a conspiracy to oust Muizzu from power. An agent of the Indian intelligence agency RAW was in contact with Maldivian opposition leaders.

Bribe plan for votes

The Washington Post has prepared this report on the basis of an internal document. According to this, the opposition leaders of Maldives had prepared a plan to bribe 40 members, which also included members of Muizzu's own party People's National Congress. All these members would have voted against Muizzu on the impeachment motion.

Added name of RAW officer

It is alleged that a senior RAW official had discussed with two people at the Indian Embassy in Washington about ousting Muizzu from power. One of them was former Indian Police Service officer Shirish Thorat and the other was former spokesperson of Bharatiya Janata Party Savio Rodrigues.

The Washington Post also claimed that Thorat and Rodrigues confirmed, but did not say, that they were working on behalf of the Indian government. Rodrigues runs an online portal called Goa Chronicle. It claimed that members of Muizzu's family were linked to terrorist plots in India.

Former President rejected the claim

Former President Mohammed Rashid, head of Maldives' largest opposition party, the Maldivian Democratic Party, has rejected the Washington Post report. He said that he is not aware of any such conspiracy and India will never support any such move.

Muizzu becomes president in 2023

• Muizzu won the Maldives presidential election in September 2023. He started his election campaign with 'India Out', but later his relations with India became friendly. After becoming President, he did not visit India in the initial days.
• Muizzu went to China and Turkey. At the same time, ministers of his government started attacking PM Narendra Modi on social media. Muizzu also insisted on removing Indian soldiers present in Maldives to look after the aviation platform.
• While the opposition in Maldives was close to India, Muizzu's friendship with China was deeper. In January, the opposition party of Maldives had also prepared a proposal to impeach Muizzu, but the Supreme Court had given relief to Muizzu.