The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel of receiving hawala money from illegal betting operators to fund the Congress party’s election campaign in the state.
The BJP’s allegations stem from an ongoing investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into an illegal betting app called Mahadev. According to the ED, the promoters of Mahadev paid Baghel a kickback of Rs 508 crore to allow them to operate their betting app freely in Chhattisgarh.
The ED has also arrested a cash courier who was delivering a large sum of cash to Baghel. The courier has claimed that he was delivering the money on behalf of the Mahadev promoters.
The BJP has demanded Baghel’s resignation and has urged the ED to take strict action against him. The party has also alleged that the Congress is using hawala money to fund its election campaigns across the country.
Union Minister Smriti Irani made these allegations against Baghel at a press conference at the BJP headquarter in New Delhi stating that “never before in our electoral history had people seen such evidence of such things”.
“Satta mein rah kar satta ka khel khela hai,” she said.
The Congress has denied the BJP’s allegations and has accused the party of misusing central agencies to target its opponents. The party has also claimed that the ED’s investigation is politically motivated.
The Congress has denied all of these allegations. The ED is still investigating the case and it is not yet clear whether Baghel will be charged with any crimes.
The Mahadev betting app was launched in 2021 and quickly became one of the most popular betting apps in India. The app offered a wide range of betting options, including sports betting, casino games, and live betting.
The app was particularly popular among young people, many of whom were unaware of the risks associated with online betting. The ED’s investigation into Mahadev began in early 2023. In June 2023, the ED arrested the promoters of Mahadev on charges of money laundering and illegal gambling. The ED also raided the offices of Mahadev and seized crores of rupees in cash.