IN A stunning revelation that sent shock waves deep into the political machinery of poll-bound Chhattisgarh, Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday alleged that the promoters of Mahadev Online Gambling App so far paid a whopping sum of Rs 508 crores to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. However, the probe agency further added that this is a subject matter of investigation. “The startling revelation came to fore from the questioning of the courier Asim Das, and from the forensic examination of the phone recovered from him and examination of an email sent by Shubham Soni – one of the high ranking accused of illegal gambling network. Asim Das is a courier (human), who was sent from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) especially to deliver large amounts of cash for electioneering expenses of the ruling Congress Party in Chhattisgarh,” stated an official communiqué issued by the Central agency on Friday evening.

 

Attributing to the confession made by Asim Das, the ED’s official press release maintained the courier has admitted that the seized funds were arranged by the Mahadev App promoters to be delivered to one politician ‘Baghel’ for upcoming election expenses in the State of Chhattisgarh. “Some benami Bank Accounts of Mahadev APP discovered during the course of investigation found a balance amounting Rs 15.59 crore and it has also been frozen by ED,” it maintained. As per the communiqué, the Central agency on November 2 received Intelligence input that a large amount of cash is being moved in Chhattisgarh by the promoters of Mahadev APP in relation to Assembly Elections scheduled to be held in two phases on November 7 and 17 respectively. “Based on the Intelligence inputs, ED conducted searches at Hotel Triton and another location in Bhilai and successfully intercepted the courier Asim Das and recovered cash amount of Rs 5.39 crore from his car and at his residence,” it affirmed.