Raipur: The ‘banned’ online betting Mahadev App has stirred a political storm in Chhattisgarh ahead of the two-phase assembly elections in the state, scheduled to be held on Tuesday and November 17, with BJP sharing a video on social media seeking to establish the alleged link between chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and the ‘promoter’ of the gaming platform.
In the 8.41-minute video, a man who identified him as Shubham Soni, the ‘owner’ of the online betting App, was heard saying that he had paid Rs 508 crore to chief minister Bhupesh Baghel and others as ‘protection money’.
In the video, he was heard narrating how he had grown rich after owning the App and doing business in Bhilai in Chhattisgarh in 2021 and how he had caught the attention of the ‘top level people’ in the state when his lifestyle had changed.
He was heard saying in the video that trouble had started for him when ‘my boys’ were arrested.
He had then contacted one Verma to get his ‘boys’ released, according to his version made in the video.
Verma wanted him to pay Rs ten lakh per month for providing protection to his business, according to the man.
In the video, he was heard narrating how he met chief minister Mr Baghel through verma and how he started his business in Dubai at the behest of Mr Baghel.
He was heard saying in the video how he had employed his two aides, Sourav and Ravi, to look after business in Bhilai.
He was heard in the video naming an IPS officer as facilitator of the ‘deal with the chief minister’.
“I have paid Rs 508 crore to chief minister Baghel Saheb and others so far. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is after me now. I got trapped in the political system. I don’t understand what to do. I have all evidence to prove the money transactions. I want help from the Government of India as I am scared to visit India”, he was heard saying in the video.
In his reaction, Mr Baghel trashed the video saying that ‘such fictional stories’ would come up regularly till November 17 when the final phase of assembly polls in Chhattisgarh would be held.
“The video is sponsored by BJP. It is rubbish. Just enjoy watching the video”, he told reporters here.
It is not difficult to understand that such a defamatory video surfaced at the time of elections to benefit BJP, he added.
Mr Baghel said that he did not know the man and never met him either.
He questioned the version of the man in the video saying that the latter claimed him to be owner of Mahadev App whereas ED, which has been investigating the case for months, called him manager.
He accused BJP of using ED to defame him.
“BJP is now contesting elections with the help of ED”, he alleged.
Meanwhile, the Centre has said that “Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued blocking orders against 22 illegal betting apps and websites including Mahadev Book.... “.
