Mahadev app promoters have "deep connection" with BJP: Baghel

In a significant development in the Mahadev betting scam case, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Sunday said that Mahadev application promoters have deep connections with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Baghel further questioned the Centre that why they are not arresting the perpetrators in the betting scam case or closing down the application.

Baghel told Republic, "Central govt is maligning my image. They are misusing ED and other investigative agencies. They are spreading propaganda against me
Mahadev app promoters have deep connections with the BJP. Why aren't they arresting the perpetrators?

Baghel was responding to the allegations posed by Union Minister Smriti Irani against him on Saturday while she was addressing a press conference. Irani alleged, "The game of betting while being in power has become the face of Chhattisgarh Congress leadership."

She further stated more than Rs 5.30 crores were seized from a man called Asim Das. She questioned Congress whether it was true that the grand old party's leaders received money from Shubham Soni via Asim Das. She further asked whether Asim Das was ordered by Shubham Soni to go to Raipur and give money to Baghel as an election expense.

She further stated that she was asking all these questions to “Baghel and Congress party”. She added that Asim Das has admitted in his statement that he came to Raipur from Dubai as per orders and he had received orders to give money for the election expenses of Congress. She stated that “Asim Das admitted that money was from illegal betting operations of the Mahadev App”.

Irani added that the most volatile and shocking pieces of evidence regarding the use of Hawala operations and illicit money emanating from Dubai by illegal betting operators to fund the election expenses of the Congress party in Chhattisgarh have come to the fore

Earlier on Saturday, PM Modi, while addressing a public rally in the poll-bound state, accused the Congress party of using hawala money from illegal betting operators to fund its election campaign in Chhattisgarh.

Baghel alleged that this has been a practice of the BJP to first initiate an investigation against Opposition leaders; later the charges are dropped when (the same) leaders switch to BJP. "This means that the BJP is afraid and wants to tarnish my image by accusing me... The (BJP) used to blame Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ajit Pawar and even investigated their respective roles. But when they join your party, they get washed with 'Modi Washing Powder’ and they get cleaned,” said Baghel during press briefings on Saturday.

Baghel alleged that this has been a practice of the BJP to first initiate an investigation against Opposition leaders; later the charges are dropped when (the same) leaders switch to BJP. “This means that the BJP is afraid and wants to tarnish my image by accusing me... The (BJP) used to blame Himanta Biswa Sarma and Ajit Pawar and even investigated their respective roles. But when they join your party, they get washed with 'Modi Washing Powder’ and they get cleaned.”