Lagatar24 Desk
RAIPUR: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided the residence of Gaurav Mehta, an audit firm employee, in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur. The action is connected to a scam alleging the use of cryptocurrency funds for influencing the Maharashtra Assembly elections. The case involves allegations against NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule and state Congress chief Nana Patole.
The Bitcoin Scam Allegations
Gaurav Mehta, a consultant who aided the Pune police in investigating a ₹6,600 crore cryptocurrency scam in 2018, has been named as a key witness by retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil. Patil alleges that Sule and Patole misused funds from the Bitcoin scam to influence Maharashtra elections.
Patil claimed Mehta informed him about irregularities in handling cryptocurrency wallets seized during the 2018 case. According to Patil, an alternate hardware wallet was allegedly used to transfer funds, reportedly on the instructions of Amitabh Gupta, then Pune Police Commissioner.
Sule and Patole Deny Allegations
Dismissing the claims, Supriya Sule said the voice in an audio clip presented by BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi does not belong to her. “Not my voice. All these voice notes and messages are fake,” she stated.
Congress leader Nana Patole also denied any involvement, terming the allegations baseless and part of a political conspiracy ahead of elections.
Political Tensions Escalate
The allegations come on the heels of the opposition accusing BJP leader Vinod Tawde of a “cash-for-votes” scam. Tawde and the BJP have denied the charge, calling it an attempt to divert attention.
