PM Modi, Shah together can’t compete Congress so, using ED: Chhattisgarh CM Baghel after Rs 508 crore allegation

Chhattisgarh election was centred around Congress leader and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made a sensational allegation that cash around Rs 508 crore recovered during raids was sent to the CM. Moments after the news spread about the ED’s claim, Congress opened a front against rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying BJP-led Centre government is using the probe agency to win the election in Chhattisgarh.

Bhaghel took to X to defend himself,  saying the BJP wants to contest Chhattisgarh elections with the help of agencies like ED, IT, DRI and CBI. Just before the elections.

“As I have said earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party wants to contest Chhattisgarh elections with the help of agencies like ED, IT, DRI and CBI. Just before the elections, ED has made the most malicious attempt to tarnish my image. This is a political attempt to defame the popular Congress government which is being done through ED,” his post on X read.

In the name of alleged investigation of ‘Mahadev App’, ED first raided the houses of people close to me to defame them and now on the basis of the statement of an unknown person, it has accused me of taking Rs 508 crore, he added.

Questioning ED’s intention, Bhaghel said after revealing the statement of that person, the probe agency had written in a short sentence that the statement was a matter of investigation.

“If investigation has not been done then issuing a press release on the statement of one person not only reveals the intentions of the ED but also reveals the bad intentions of the Central Government behind it. At present elections are going on in the state. Everything is in the hands of the Election Commission. Apart from the police, CRPF personnel are investigating. In such a situation, the question arises that how are people able to reach Chhattisgarh with such a huge amount? Is there any nexus between central agencies going on in this too? Has this amount been brought in those boxes which have not reached by special plane with ED officers and security agencies,” he asked.

Bhaghel attacks PM Modi, Amit Shah

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the CM said the PM and the Home Minister, together were not able to compete with Congress in Chhattisgarh, so they want to contest elections with the help of investigating agencies.

“Congress is ready. Every Congress worker is ready. The people of Chhattisgarh are with us to fight agencies like ED, IT. We will fight and win,” he asserted.

ED seizes huge cash in the poll-bound state

Meanwhile the ED on Thursday seized around Rs 4.92 crore in cash in two locations – Raipur and Bhillai. ED officials claimed the money was linked to the operations of the Mahadev online betting app and the promoters of the app sent the money to a political party to influence the election. Rs 3.12 crore in cash was seized from an SUV parked in a hotel in the state capital Raipur while another Rs 1.80 crore was recovered from the residence of an individual in Bhillai. The probe agency said it has arrested the man, who had reportedly come to India from the UAE to deliver the money to an undisclosed political party. However, later, the ED sources said the money was sent to the CM Baghel which triggered an attack from Congress against the probe agency.