ED claims Bhupesh Baghel paid Rs 508 crore by Mahadev App promoters

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday claimed a cash courier, arrested with over Rs 5 crore in cash, has told the probe agency that the online Mahadev betting app promoters paid Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel Rs 508 crores.

Asim Das, the cash courier, has been arrested by the agency after it recovered Rs 5.39 crore from him in the poll-bound state. The Mahadev App and its promoters are being investigated by the ED under the anti-money laundering law.

"From the questioning of Asim Das, and from the forensic examination of the phone recovered from him, and examination of an email sent by Shubam Soni (one of the high ranking accused of Mahadev network) many startling allegations have come forth, namely, that regular payments have been made in the past and so far around Rs 508 crore have been paid by Mahadev APP promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, Chief



Minister of Chhattisgarh," the ED said in a statement.

"Searches conducted at Hotel Triton and another location in Bhilai and successfully intercepted a cash courier Asim Das who was sent from UAE especially, to deliver large amounts of cash for electioneering expenses of the ruling Congress Party," ED informed in a press release. 

ED recovered cash sent from Dubai from a car parked in a house as well as a hotel. The probe agency has also arrested a constable of Chhattisgarh Police, Bhim Yadav, who traveled to Dubai several times in the last three years. The bribe money used to reach the politicians and police officers through Yadav. 

Das was in touch with the most wanted Shubham Soni, close to the promoter in the Mahadev App case. ED has recovered evidence of a conversation between the two through voice notes from Das's phone.