An FIR has been filed against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and promoters of the Mahadev app, marking a significant development in the ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities and corruption. According to reports by Times Now, serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including criminal breach of trust and cheating, have been leveled against them. This development comes amidst a broader probe by investigative agencies into the Mahadev betting app case, which has revealed substantial financial discrepancies and alleged misconduct involving high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been actively investigating the Mahadev app case, unearthing various irregularities and instances of money laundering. In a recent revelation made during the investigation, the ED disclosed the utilization of several dummy accounts and fake bank entities to invest nearly ₹1,100 crore in the stock market. As part of its ongoing probe, the ED has frozen shares worth this amount until further investigation is completed, highlighting the severity of the financial misconduct associated with the case.
Earlier this month, the Enforcement Directorate made two fresh arrests in connection with the Mahadev app-linked money laundering case. Girish Talreja and Suraj Chokhani were apprehended on March 2 and March 3, respectively. They were subsequently produced before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, which remanded them to ED custody till March 11. These arrests underscore the agency’s determination to pursue all individuals involved in the alleged financial irregularities associated with the Mahadev app.
The ED has alleged that funds acquired unlawfully through the Mahadev app were utilized for paying bribes to politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh, the home state of the primary promoters and operators of the app. As part of its investigation, the ED has seized or frozen movable properties amounting to ₹1764.5 crore. Additionally, a total of 11 individuals have been arrested thus far in connection with the Mahadev betting app scam case, highlighting the widespread nature of the alleged financial misconduct.
One of the most significant allegations made by the ED in the Mahadev app case is the purported payment of around ₹508 crore to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel by the app’s promoters. These allegations, made just ahead of the state assembly elections, were vehemently refuted by Baghel, who dismissed them as efforts to tarnish his reputation. The Congress party, to which Baghel belongs, condemned the accusations as a political vendetta orchestrated by the Central government, further politicizing the already contentious issue.
The Mahadev app case has sent shockwaves through Chhattisgarh’s political landscape, with prominent politicians and bureaucrats implicated in alleged financial irregularities and corruption. The case has also raised concerns about the integrity of the state’s governance and regulatory mechanisms, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability in public office.
As investigations into the Mahadev app case continue, questions linger about the extent of political involvement and the potential ramifications for Chhattisgarh’s political establishment. The FIR filed against Bhupesh Baghel and Mahadev app promoters underscores the gravity of the allegations and the need for a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter. In the meantime, the public awaits further developments in what has become one of the most high-profile cases of alleged corruption and financial misconduct in recent memory.
