"Dismal new low in Indian politics...": BJP's Kesavan slams MVA over Bitcoin cash-for-votes row

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], November 20 : Coming out heavily against Congress leader Nana Patole and NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule over their alleged involvement in a 'bitcoin scam', BJP National Spokesperson CR Kesavan expressed his discontent, stating that it was a "new low" in Indian politics and public discourse.
Speaking to ANI on Wednesday, Kesavan stated, "These scandalous and alarming allegations involving Congress leader Nana Patole and Supriya Sule in this cryptocurrency corruption and bitcoin mark a dismal new low in Indian politics and public discourse."
He described the charges involving attempts to extort and misappropriate money as disturbing and disquieting.
"The allegations, as we have seen, are about money trying to be extorted and misappropriated. These are very disturbing and disquieting charges," he said.
Retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil from Pune on Wednesday, accused Supriya Sule and Nana Patole of being involved in a cryptocurrency fraud case from 2018, claiming that the funds from this fraud were used for election campaigns.
These allegations have surfaced amid the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly elections, which are being held in a single phase on November 20.
The BJP spokesperson further contrasted these allegations with the initiatives of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, according to Kesavan, has led the way in promoting digital India through UPI and other schemes, making significant changes in the country's digital landscape.
"On one side you have Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has pioneered digital India, and through UPI and other initiatives, he has made a tectonic transformation in the lives of people. On the other side, you have the Congress and the MVA faced with serious allegations of digital scams and digital frauds," he added.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today conducted raids at the premises of Gaurav Mehta, an employee of audit firm Sarathi Associates, in connection with an alleged bitcoin scam case. The searches were being carried out in Chhattisgarh's Raipur.
The move comes after Supriya Sule, a Member of Parliament from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction), filed a cybercrime complaint with the Election Commission of India following allegations of using Bitcoin to fund the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly elections.
The complaint targets Gaurav Mehta and a former Indian Police Service officer from Pune, Ravindranath Patil.