'Malicious Attempt To Tarnish My Image': Chhattisgarh CM Bhagel After ED's Claim On Betting App

ED alleged that its probe revealed that chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was "paid Rs 508 crore" by the owners of the online betting platform, Mahadev Book App.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. ( Image Source :PTI )

After ED alleged that Mahadev app promoters paid Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh CM, Bhupesh Baghel on Friday accussed Bharatiya Janata Party of using central agencies to win upcoming assembly elections in the state. Taking to X, CM Bhupesh Baghel stated: "As I have said earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party wants to contest Chhattisgarh elections with the help of agencies like ED, IT, DRI and CBI. Just before the elections, ED has made the most malicious attempt to tarnish my image. This is an attempt to defame the Congress government through ED. In the name of the alleged investigation of 'Mahadev App', ED first raided the houses of people close to me to defame them and now on the basis of the statement of an unknown person, it has accused me of taking Rs 508 crore...The people of Chhattisgarh are with us to fight agencies like ED, and IT. We will fight and win."

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah together are not able to compete with Congress in Chhattisgarh, so they want to contest elections with the help of investigating agencies," he further stated. 

जैसा कि मैंने पहले कहा है कि भारतीय जनता पार्टी ईडी, आईटी, डीआरआई और सीबीआई जैसी एजेंसियों के सहारे छत्तीसगढ़ का चुनाव लड़ना चाहती है. चुनाव के ठीक पहले ईडी ने मेरी छवि धूमिल करने की सबसे कुत्सित प्रयास किया है. यह कांग्रेस की लोकप्रिय सरकार को बदनाम करने का राजनीतिक प्रयास है जो…

— Bhupesh Baghel (@bhupeshbaghel) November 3, 2023

"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's statement was quoted by PTI in its report.  

On ED's claim that Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was paid Rs 508 crore by Mahadev app promoters, BJP National Vice President and former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh said: "Exchange of money worth Rs 508 crore took place that means Chhattisgarh CM took money from the concerned people of Mahadev betting app. Liquor scam, coal scam and rice scam were there, but now evidence has been presented by ED. What can be more shameful for a state's CM."

#WATCH | Raipur, Chhattisgarh: On ED's claim that Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel was paid Rs 508 crore by Mahadev app promoters, BJP National Vice President and former Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh says, "Exchange of money worth Rs 508 crore took place that means Chhattisgarh CM… pic.twitter.com/aQDpzXLsGn

— ANI (@ANI) November 3, 2023

Chhattisgarh will vote in two stages on November 7 and 17, with results expected on December 3. The first round of voting for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh will take place on November 7, with the remaining 70 seats in the state voting on November 17. The Model Code of Conduct has already been introduced in Chhattisgarh.