'One of Them is My Sister': Ajit Pawar Reacts to Charges Against Supriya Sule in Maha Bitcoin Scam

Mumbai: A ‘bitcoin bomb’ was dropped in Maharashtra on the eve of the assembly elections in the state when former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, who made the crypto charge against Sharad Pawar -led NCP leader Supriya Sule and Congress state chief Nana Patole, alleged that both Sule and Patole used bitcoin cash for funds in elections. Today, after casting his vote, Supriya Sule's brother and NCP leader Ajit Pawar has identified his sister's voice in one of the viral audio clips.

‘One of Them is My Sister’: Ajit Pawar on Allegations Against Supriya Sule 

After casting his vote, Ajit Pawar claimed that he could recognize the voice of his sister in the purported Audio clips that the former IPS officer Patil had alluded to as proof of Sule's involvement in the scam. The Deputy CM also promised an investigation into the scandal.

In a statement Ajit Pawar said, “Whatever audio clip is being shown, I just know that I have worked with both of them. One of them is my sister and the other is someone with whom I have worked a lot. The audio clip has their voices; I can figure out from their tone. An inquiry will be done and everything will be clear. An inquiry will be done and the truth will come in front of the people.”

‘He is Ajit Pawar, He Can Say Anything’: Supriya Sule Responds

Replying to Ajit Pawar's assertion on the audio being hers Sule said, "He is Ajit Pawar, he can say anything. 'Ram Krishna Hari'."

Speaking to ANI, Sule further said, "I have filed a defamation case and a criminal case. I am ready to answer his (Sudhanshu Trivedi) 5 questions wherever he wants. Time of his choice, place of his choice and platform of his choice. I am ready to answer him because all the allegations are completely false. All lies."

What is Maharashtra Bitcoin Scam?

A day before the state of Maharashtra goes to the polls, Ravindranath Patil, former-IPS officer from Pune made a major allegation against NCP-SP Leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole. The former IPS officer alleged that the two leaders had misappropriated bitcoins from a 2018 Cryptocurrency Fraud Case and had used by the same to fund the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections . Patil says he is ready to support the investigation.

"My company called me as a cryptocurrency expert to investigate a case in 2018. I was arrested in that case in 2022 under allegations of fraud. I spent 14 months in jail after a trial. During that time, I was wondering what had happened, what the case was and why was I trapped. There were other colleagues also with me. We were working on finding out the truth. A witness against us, Gaurav Mehta, who is an employee of an audit firm named Sarathi Associates. A day before yesterday, he called me multiple times for 4-5 hours, but I did not respond... Finally, when I responded, he told me that in 2018, when Amit Bharadwaj was arrested, he had a cryptocurrency hardware wallet... That wallet was replaced by the then Commissioner Amitabh Gupta and another wallet was kept. We were arrested but the real perpetrators were Amitabh Gupta and his team. He (Gaurav Mehta) took the names of two IPS officers, Amitabh Gupta and Bhagyashri Nautake. He took two people's name one is Supriya Sule and Nana Patole. He then told me that in this assembly elections bitcoins are being used," Patil alleged.

Patil claims he has access to voice notes allegedly sent by the alleged witness Gaurav Mehta, “Supriya Sule has sent three voice note messages in which she is heard asking Gaurav to encash bitcoins as the funds are needed for the elections. She is also heard assuring him not to worry about the inquiries and one they come to power, they will handle them.”

"He (Gaurav Mehta) further said that in the Maharashtra Assembly elections too, the same bitcoin money is being used. On the direction of Amitabh Gupta, he (Gaurav Mehta) went to Dubai multiple times and converted the bitcoin into cash. And that cash is being used in Maharashtra elections... He (Gaurav Mehta) sent me some voice notes he had received on WhatsApp. There were 3 audio messages from Supriya Sule where she asks for cash in exchange for bitcoins. She also says that he (Gaurav Mehta) does not need to worry about inquiry, they will handle it when they come to power... He (Gaurav Mehta) sent another voice note between Amitabh Gupta and Nana Patole where Patole is asking why there is a delay in cash," Patil further added.

Patil further alleged that "in other calls, Amitabh Gupta is heard giving instructions to Gaurav to cash out bitcoins.

"He (Gaurav) sent me more recordings where Amitabh Gupta was asking for Rs. 50 crores... He sent me a voice note he sent to Amitabh Gupta, saying that they had made 4 crypto wallets under the names of Patil and Ghode (my colleague) and the transactions were done from these wallets. If there is an investigation, Patil and Ghode would be caught... During the chat with me, he (Gaurav Mehta) alleged that he wanted to come out of this but his life would be in danger... I have all the screenshots and the audio and I am ready to provide them to the investigation agencies. I am ready to support the investigation," Patil said.

(Inputs from ANI)