A massive row has emerged over an alleged ‘Bitcoin scam’ linked to the Maharashtra Assembly elections, with former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil claiming serious allegations against NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole.
The BJP used this as an opportunity to attack the opposition, presenting audio recordings as evidence.
The ‘Bitcoin scam’
Ravindranath Patil, a former IPS officer, has accused Sharad Pawar’s daughter Sule and state Congress chief Patole of misappropriating bitcoins from a 2018 cryptocurrency fraud case and using them to fund the ongoing Maharashtra Assembly elections. The Pune police, in collaboration with cyber expert Pankaj Ghode, employed Patil to investigate several cryptocurrency cases filed in 2018.
Patil moved some cryptocurrency into his account during the investigation, but later refuted the claims and claimed that Gaurav Mehta, a key witness in the case and an audit firm employee, had informed him about the 2018 Bitcoin fraud investigation.
The BJP released audio recordings to the media, claiming they were proof of Patole and Sule’s involvement in the “Bitcoin scam.” Party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi accused Sule and Patole of engaging in a conspiracy involving illegal Bitcoin transactions to influence election results in favor of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).
In a press conference held at the BJP’s national headquarters, Trivedi said that an accused dealer contacts a former police officer who has been jailed and tells him that he wants to conduct bitcoin transactions in cash. The dealer tries to convince the officer, claiming that a few “big people” are involved, allegedly naming Nana Patole and Supriya Sule.
The saffron party has asked for immediate action against the MVA leaders “on the basis of viral audio and chat.”
BJP leader Vinod Tawde took to X and said, “Allegations of former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil have made it clear that Supriya Sule, Nana Patole and Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders are using illegal money through Bitcoin in Maharashtra elections.”
(1/2) पूर्व आईपीएस अधिकारी रवींद्रनाथ पाटिल के आरोपों से साफ हो गया है कि सुप्रिया सुले, नाना पटोले और महाविकास अघाड़ी के नेता महाराष्ट्र चुनाव में बिटक्वाइन के जरिए अवैध धन का प्रयोग कर रहे हैं।
— Vinod Tawde (@TawdeVinod) November 19, 2024
उन्होंने अपनी झूठ की दुकान के जरिए सच को छिपाने की बहुत कोशिश की, लेकिन अब… pic.twitter.com/Dg7vxjTTvM
“He tried very hard to hide the truth through his lies, but now the people of Maharashtra know his truth well, the answer to which they will get through voting tomorrow. The Election Commission should also take immediate action against the Maha Vikas Aghadi leader on the basis of viral audio and chat.”
Sule, a former MP from Baramati, has denied allegations against her party leader, Sudhanshu Trivedi, for spreading false information during the election campaign. Sule claims that the BJP’s audio clip does not contain her voice and that a defamation notice was issued to Trivedi. She claims that she first complained to the Commissioner of Pune about fake videos and then sent a notice to cybercrime. Sule then called her lawyers and sent a criminal defamation notice to Trivedi. She is ready to answer Trivedi anytime, anywhere, and is ready to debate him in a public forum. Sule also denies the allegations made by Trivedi, stating that they are baseless and not surprising. She plans to issue a criminal and civil defamation notice against Trivedi for making false allegations with an intent to deceive the public. Sule’s lawyer will be issuing a criminal and civil defamation notice against Trivedi.
It’s appalling that such baseless allegations are made by Mr Sudhanshu Trivedi, yet not surprising as it’s a clear case of spreading false information, the night before elections. My lawyer will be issuing a criminal & civil defamation notice against Sudhanshu Trivedi for making…
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 19, 2024
Familiar tactics of spreading false information to manipulate the righteous voters are being resorted to, a night before the polling day. We have filed a criminal complaint to the Hon’ble ECI & the Cyber crime department against the fake allegations made of bitcoin… pic.twitter.com/g8Selv1DFk
— Supriya Sule (@supriya_sule) November 19, 2024
She has filed a criminal complaint against Gaurav Mehta and Ravindranath Patil with the Election Commission and the Cyber Cell in Pune, accusing them of disseminating fake and malicious information.
“This amounts to criminal impersonation that too, using digital means, which is a grave offence as it is with an intent to defraud and defame,” the complaint said.
The state is holding elections for its 288-member Assembly, with 4,136 candidates running. The election is primarily bipolar, with the opposition MVA alliance opposing the BJP, which is allied with the NCP and Shiv Sena under the ruling Mahayuti banner. The counting of votes will take place on November 23.
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