Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) chief and former President Mohamed Nasheed has categorically dismissed claims made in a recent Washington Post report alleging Indian involvement in a plot to impeach current Maldives President Mohammed Muizzu. Nasheed rejected the suggestion that India, a longstanding ally of the Maldives, would support any such conspiracy, and expressed doubt over the existence of any “serious plot” to remove the president.
“I read with interest today’s Washington Post article. I was unaware of any serious plot against the President, though some people always live in conspiracy. India would never back such a move, as they always support Maldives’ democracy. India has never dictated terms to us, either,” Nasheed stated in a public response.
The Washington Post report, citing an internal document titled “Democratic Renewal Initiative,” alleged that Maldivian opposition politicians proposed a scheme to bribe 40 members of parliament, including those within Muizzu’s own party, to secure his impeachment. The report claimed that the proposed $6 million funding for this effort was to be sought from India. It further accused opposition figures of planning to pay senior army and police officers and enlisting criminal gangs to execute the plan.
The document, which reportedly detailed these plans, suggested that conspirators sought 87 million Maldivian rufiyaa ($6 million) to fund the operation. Two Maldivian officials allegedly claimed that this funding would be solicited from India.
The report also implicated a senior officer from India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), in exploring plans to remove Muizzu. It alleged that, months after Muizzu assumed office, the officer held discussions with two Indian intermediaries, including Shirish Thorat, a former Indian police officer turned private military contractor, and Savio Rodrigues, a publisher and former BJP spokesperson. Both Thorat and Rodrigues reportedly confirmed to the Washington Post the existence of plans to remove Muizzu but denied acting on behalf of the Indian government.
Despite these claims, the report noted uncertainty over whether senior officials in New Delhi were aware of or approved any such plans.
Nasheed’s outright dismissal of the allegations aligns with India’s longstanding stance of supporting Maldivian democracy and respecting its sovereignty. The Indian government has not issued an official response to the report.
