Mahadev App case: Betting App owner claims Bhupesh Baghel encouraged Dubai visit
New Delhi, November 05: In a new twist to the alleged Mahadev App case, a key accused, Shubham Soni, wanted by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering investigation, has released a video from Dubai making several serious allegations against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The case revolves around allegations of money laundering and the use of illegal funds during elections, and it surfaces just days before Chhattisgarh is set to vote. Chhattisgarh remains a significant stronghold for the Congress party.
In the video, Shubham Soni claims that he had gone to Dubai on the advice of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, implicating the state's top official in the ongoing scandal. Furthermore, Soni alleges that he is the "true owner" of Mahadev, the betting app at the center of the investigation due to substantial profits.
Recently, the Enforcement Directorate confiscated ₹5.39 crore in cash from a courier named Asim Das. Das stated that the money was sent from Dubai by Shubham Soni for Bhupesh Baghel. During the course of the investigation, benami bank accounts associated with the betting app were uncovered, and approximately ₹15.59 crore in these accounts has been frozen.
Forensic examination of Asim Das's cellphone and an email sent by Shubham Soni revealed that "regular payments have been made in the past, and thus far, around ₹508 crore has been paid by Mahadev App promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh," according to sources familiar with the matter.
- With inputs from agencies