Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday accused the Narendra Modi led BJP government at centre of misusing investigating agencies to topple the Maharashtra government by targeting its leaders and their families, including Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

Nearly hour-long media briefing, which has also live telecasted in big screens enable for party workers to see, Mr. Raut said he had called Union Home Minister Amit Shah after the ED raids on his friends and relatives.

"The day I was targeted and my close ones raided, I called up Amit Shah that night. I told him that I respect you...you are a big leader and home minister of the country, but whatever is happening is not right. If you have any animosity with me then target me, torture me, why are they (central agencies) targeting my friends and relatives," he said.

Before ED conducting raids on his friends, BJP has sends the feelers to him to topple Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra. ED has raided only after he declines the BJP offer, Sena leader accused.

"Around 20 days back, some senior people of the BJP met me and asked me to shift allegiance. We want to topple this government anyhow. We will either get President's Rule imposed or we will break a group of MLAs and form the government," Mr Raut claimed,

He claimed the Enforcement Directorate or ED, which investigates financial crimes, was interrogating people who were involved in his daughter's wedding - including the florist, decorator, the beautician and even his tailor.

Mr Raut asserted, that neither he nor any member of Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance of the Shiv Sena, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress will give in to such tactics.

He also claimed he was told central agencies will "fix" him if he did not budge. Mr Raut alleged the BJP leaders referred to the raids involving people close to Sharad Pawar's relatives.

Soon after this, Enforcement Directorate started targeting people close to him in a "very bad manner", Mr Raut added.

Regarding Mr Raut's allegations, BJP leader and former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he would "respond at an appropriate time".