On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced that it had recorded the statement of a “cash courier” who claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been given a whopping amount of Rs 508 crore from the promoters of Mahadev betting app, who are based in the United Arab Emirates. These allegations have been denied by the Chhattisgarh government, which asserts that the central agency is being used as a “weapon” in advance of the state assembly election.
Days before the November 7 and 17 elections in Chhattisgarh, the ED has released its statement.
The “cash courier,” Asim Das, was sent from the United Arab Emirates “especially to deliver large amounts of cash for electioneering expenses of the ruling Congress” in Chhattisgarh, according to an ED statement announcing his arrest.
According to the ED, Rs 5.39 crore was recovered from Asim’s home and vehicle.
“From the questioning of Asim Das, and from the forensic examination of the phone recovered from him, and examination of an email sent by Shubam Soni (one of the high-ranking accused of Mahadev network) many startling allegations have come forth, namely, that regular payments have been made in the past and so far around Rs 508 crore have been paid by Mahadev app promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh,” the ED said in the statement.
“Asim Das has admitted that the seized funds were arranged by the Mahadev app promoters to be delivered to one politician ‘Baghel’ for upcoming election expenses in the state of Chhattisgarh,” the agency alleged in a statement.
Responding to the ED claims, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “What could be a bigger joke than this? If I get hold of someone and make him name the Prime Minister, will you interrogate the Prime Minister? It’s very easy to name someone in a scam.”
Mr. Baghel has denied the accusations made against him and stated that the ED is indulging in a “malicious attempt” to damage his reputation prior to the elections.
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