A senior official from the Maharashtra government has been removed after his name was linked to the alleged hasty granting of minority status to 75 educational institutions following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, according to a Government Resolution dated February 17, 2026. The action against Milind Padmanabh Shenoy, Deputy Secretary in the Minority Development Department, came a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stayed the approvals. While Shenoy has been relieved of his position, he has not been assigned any other responsibilities. A high-level inquiry has been ordered to determine how the files were processed, whether due procedure was followed, and whether any previous suspension in issuing minority certificates had been formally lifted. Deputy Chief Minister and Minority Development Minister Sunetra Pawar, who was sworn in after her husband Ajit Pawar's death, had earlier directed officials to investigate the matter and take strict action if any wrongdoing was established.