New Delhi: Amid the continued controversy over the now-illegal Mahadev betting app, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday highlighted the timing of the allegations and known as on the Election Fee to take motion in opposition to efforts to “tarnish” his authorities’s picture simply days forward of the polling.
Chhattisgarh goes to polls in two phases- November 7 and November 17.
The ED on Friday claimed {that a} forensic evaluation and an announcement made by a ‘money courier’ have led to “startling allegations” that Mahadev betting app promoters paid about Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel up to now, and that “these are material of investigation”.
Nonetheless, the Congress and Baghel have rejected the fees as politically motivated given the upcoming meeting polls.
Newest Updates On The Row:
- Congress has determined to method the Election Fee of India within the matter. Confirming that the celebration would method the ballot physique as we speak, Baghel stated, “Why has the Election Fee not taken cognizance of this? … A grievance might be despatched from us…Investigation must be carried out for the tarnishing picture… There are clear instructions within the pointers of the Election Fee…They need to look into this.”
- The Centre has issued blocking orders in opposition to 22 unlawful betting platforms, together with Mahadev app and Reddyannaprestopro, on the Enforcement Directorate’s request.
- Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged the Chhattisgarh authorities didn’t ship any request to dam these platforms regardless of having powers to take action. “Chhattisgarh Police and the Chhattisgarh Govt began the investigation 1.5 years in the past however didn’t do something relating to this. They wrote a letter, however nobody is aware of to whom. They only wished to stretch this investigation in order that they will take cash from the App. They’ve obtained Rs 508 crores from the App, and now they should reply why they took it… ED requested us to dam this App yesterday for the primary time and we instantly blocked 22 such Apps…They didn’t give any software to the Central Govt to dam this App in these 1.5 years,” he stated.
- In a publish on X, Congress common secretary Jairam Ramesh stated the ED has been investigating the Mahadev app case for a number of months nevertheless it was “stunning” that it took a lot time to ban it.
- “The demand to ban Mahadev App was additionally first raised by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on August 24, 2023. As a substitute of praising him, the Prime Minister deployed ED in opposition to him,” Ramesh alleged. The Union minister is “clearly mendacity” about the truth that Chhattisgarh authorities had not demanded a ban on the Mahadev app, the Congress alleged.
- Reacting to a purported video launched the the BJP through which the Mahadev betting app case accused Shubham Soni claimed to have proof displaying that Baghel and others have been paid Rs 508 crore, he stated, “It’s no thriller why and the way this video has come and additionally it is not obscure that such an announcement has been issued on the time of elections solely to profit the BJP.”
- “Everybody additionally understands that that is being carried out by weaponising ED. In truth, BJP is now contesting elections with the assistance of ED and is utilizing it to defame me,” he added.
- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi stated, “Our colleague Smirit Irani gave an in depth assertion on it yesterday. The accused that’s caught has stated that he has delivered Rs. 5 crores to the (Chhattisgarh) CM. He alleged that the promoters gave cash to the CM. First, Rs. 5 crore was given and the allegation is Rs. 500 crore. I solely wish to ask whether or not there must be an investigation or not?… What’s the ED’s assertion?… What demand are they (Congress) taking to the Election Fee?… Are they going to demand to the Election Fee that it doesn’t matter what the corruption and the rip-off is, we do not need any inquiry? I do not perceive what they will current earlier than the EC. Even the frequent persons are not capable of perceive this. I wish to ask (Bhupesh) Baghel that if the accused has alleged that cash has reached the CM, then an investigation must be carried out or not?”
- On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) unveiled a video throughout a press convention in Delhi. Within the video, Shubham Soni, an accused within the Mahadev Ebook betting app case, made startling claims relating to his involvement within the app and alleged monetary transactions with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others, amounting to Rs 508 crore.