"Mahadev betting app side business of Baghel govt": BJP's MP chief takes potshots at Chhattisgarh CM

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], November 4 : The BJP's Madhya Pradesh unit on Saturday hit out at Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case claiming that the app flourished with the active support of the Congress government.
Addressing a press conference in Bhopal on Saturday, BJP state president VD Sharma said, "From the revelations in the Mahadev betting app scandal, we can say that the Congress is hand-in-glove with brokers, middlemen and speculators. This scandal flourished with the active support of the Baghel government. It was because of this reason that the Congress government in the state did not order a proper investigation into it," Sharma said.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed that the betting app was the side business of the Baghel government, the BJP leader alleged, adding that the Chhattisgarh CM put the state's development on a bet.
"Some shocking facts have come to light against CM Baghel. The ED's investigation has revealed that the promoters of the Mahadev betting app made regular payments to the Chhattisgarh CM and, till now, a total of Rs 508 crore has been paid to him. The speculators, who have been caught in connection with the ongoing investigation, have disclosed the same," Sharma said.
The BJP state chief added that on November 2, the ED received information that a large amount of cash was being transported to Chhattisgarh by the promoters of the Mahadev betting app, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, which would be held in two phases -- on November 7 and 17.
The ED conducted searches at two places and detained one Asim Das while also recovering Rs 539 crores from him.
"Das admitted that the seized amount was arranged by Mahadev app promoters and given to a politician, who was none other than CM Baghel, for meeting expenses ahead of the upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh. The ED has also traced some unknown bank accounts of Mahadev app promoters and froze Rs 15.59 crores," he added.
"We want to ask the Chhattisgarh CM: is it true that Asim Das used to provide money to Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh? Is it true Asim Das was instructed through a voice message to give money to CM Baghel?" the BJP state chief added.
The ED on Friday, said to have landed fresh evidence following a search operation on November 2 that regular payments were made and about Rs 508 crore, to date, has been paid by Mahadev App promoters to Chhattisgarh CM Baghel.
On Thursday, the ED conducted raids in Chhattisgarh against the money laundering networks linked to the Mahadev online betting app, which is being investigated under the anti-money laundering Act.
The probe is being carried out after the ED cited intelligence indicating the movement of a substantial amount of cash in the poll-bound state.
The agency said that it successfully intercepted a cash courier, identified as Asim Das, who had allegedly been sent from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the specific mission of delivering a significant sum of cash.
A total of Rs 5.39 crore was seized from Das, from his vehicle and his residence, the agency added.
Das confessed that the intercepted funds were arranged by the promoters of the Mahadev betting app for the purpose of delivering them to a prominent politician, who goes by the surname 'Baghel', to support upcoming election expenses in the state, according to the ED.