Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed Denies Report of $6 Million Plot to Impeach Mohamed Muizzu

Mohamed Nasheed, the former president of the Maldives, has strongly denied a recent Washington Post article that claims the opposition sought financial help from India to orchestrate a plot to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu.

The report, published by the U.S. newspaper, alleges that opposition figures in the Maldives attempted to bribe members of parliament to vote for Muizzu’s removal, with a $6 million financial plan involving India.

However, Nasheed refuted these allegations, stating he was unaware of any such plot and asserting that India would never support such an effort.

Nasheed, who is the leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and the largest opposition party, voiced his disbelief about the purported scheme.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), he expressed that there was no “serious plot” to impeach President Muizzu and emphasized that India has consistently supported the Maldives’ democratic process.

He further clarified that India has never interfered in the internal affairs of the Maldives, rejecting any notion of foreign involvement in the country’s politics.

The Washington Post Allegations

The Washington Post’s report, which is based on an internal document titled “Democratic Renewal Initiative,” claims that opposition politicians in the Maldives proposed bribing 40 members of parliament, including those from Muizzu’s own party, to vote for his impeachment.

The plan also allegedly included paying off senior military and police officers as well as criminal gangs to facilitate Muizzu’s removal.

According to the report, the opposition sought a total of 87 million Maldivian rufiyaa (about $6 million) to fund the plot, and some sources suggested that this money would be requested from India.

The article also claimed that a senior officer from India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the country’s foreign intelligence agency, explored the idea of overthrowing President Muizzu with the help of two intermediaries.

These individuals, Shirish Thorat and Savio Rodrigues, were said to have political and business connections in the Maldives.

Thorat is a former Indian police officer, while Rodrigues is a journalist and former spokesperson for India’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Washington Post alleged that both Thorat and Rodrigues confirmed the existence of such a plan but did not clarify whether they were acting on behalf of the Indian government.

However, it remains unclear how seriously India considered backing the impeachment effort or whether the plan ever received approval from senior officials in New Delhi.

India’s Role and Denials from Nasheed and Others

Nasheed has dismissed the report’s allegations, asserting that India has always been a supporter of democracy in the Maldives and would never engage in supporting a conspiracy to remove a democratically elected leader.

He pointed out that conspiracy theories often arise in political contexts but emphasized that India’s position has consistently been one of respect for the sovereignty of the Maldives.

Meanwhile, Rodrigues, one of the intermediaries mentioned in the report, responded to the Washington Post’s claims by insisting that he was simply a “soldier without a uniform,” committed to defending his country.

He did not confirm or deny any involvement in the alleged impeachment plot but explained that, as a journalist, he maintained contacts with various political leaders as part of his professional role.

Rodrigues also took the opportunity to criticize the report as an attempt to discredit him, underscoring his dedication to safeguarding India’s security.

The Context of Maldives Politics

The political backdrop of the report centers on President Muizzu, who was elected in September 2023.

Initially, Muizzu campaigned on an “India Out” platform, which called for the removal of Indian military presence in the Maldives.

However, after taking office, his administration has softened its stance, and Muizzu has visited India and engaged in efforts to strengthen ties, including signing agreements on economic cooperation.

The opposition MDP, under Nasheed’s leadership, has historically had a foreign policy aligned with India, which contrasts with Muizzu’s coalition, which is perceived as more favorable toward China.

Relations between the Maldives and India were strained in the early days of Muizzu’s presidency, especially after the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives in May 2024.

The political tensions between the government and opposition have included discussions about impeachment motions against Muizzu.

In January, it was reported that the opposition MDP, in collaboration with the Democrats, was preparing an impeachment motion, taking advantage of its majority in the Maldivian parliament.

However, a ruling by the Maldivian Supreme Court in February suspended this motion, giving Muizzu a temporary reprieve.

Despite the opposition’s efforts, Muizzu’s coalition solidified its power with a victory in the parliamentary elections held in April 2024.

This win further diminished the chances of impeachment, solidifying his position in the face of ongoing political challenges.

As the controversy continues to swirl, the claims made by the Washington Post have been firmly rejected by Mohamed Nasheed and others involved.

The issue remains a point of significant political debate in the Maldives, with tensions between the ruling and opposition parties still unresolved.

While India’s involvement in the alleged impeachment plot remains unsubstantiated, the ongoing political dynamics in the Maldives are likely to have significant implications for the country’s future relations with both its neighboring countries and its internal political stability.