Bhupesh Baghel evades Republic TV’s questions as Mahadev App scam becomes nation’s top talking point

The Mahadev betting app scam is one that has caused tremors across the political spectrum ahead of the Chhattisgarh elections. Two days after Republic TV's sting exposed the allegation of political patronage given to scamsters, the network has accessed multiple stunning videos which bring to the fore startling allegations against Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel’s Office.

Claim against CM Baghel's office

In Part 1 of the explosive Mahadev video accessed by Republic— a man claiming to be Shubham Soni- positioning himself as the owner of Mahadev has made allegations against the Chief minister's office. Implicating the CM office, a man claiming to be Shubham Soni says that he paid 10 Lakh rupees every month to one 'Verma Ji'. Incidentally, Vinod Verma is the political advisor to CM Bhupesh Baghel.

''I am Shubham Soni. I am the owner of the Mahadev book and the documents that I showed prove the same. In 2021, I started this App. My gambling work reached heights in Bhilai. It started on a small scale and gradually started reaching heights. As the work started progressing, our lifestyle also changed as we received hefty amounts. Soon everybody started noticing and this went to the top level and complaints were registered. That is when the need for protection crept in. During that time, even the boys (members of Mahadev app) were put behind bars. I later got to know about Verma ji and I had a meeting with him. Then I used to send him money every week. So after I met Verma ji, it was decided that I had to send him 10 lakhs every month. So I started sending him 10 lakh rupees every month,” the man claiming to be Shubham Soni said in the accessed video.

'Verma ji assured me assistance'

In the alleged video which is yet to be probed by the agencies as per sources, and of which Republic TV makes no endorsement vis-a-vis the claims by the individual, the man claiming to be Shubham Soni goes on to allege that it was one 'Verma Ji' who assured him of assistance.

"After some days, some of the members of the Mahadev App were booked and it became difficult to bring them out. So I called Verma ji and asked him why this was happening even after I sent him Rs 10 lakhs every month. He assured me that he would help me out. However, the arrested members still didn't get relief and that is when I called him again. He told me that he would make me meet someone. I told him I was ready to meet anyone who gets the arrested members out of jail. So he took me to Raipur with him,” the man claiming to be Shubham Soni alleged.

Bhupesh Baghel evades Republic

Almost 76 kilometres away from Raipur in Rajnandgaon, Chhattisgarh Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel was presenting his party's manifesto. Republic travelled to Rajnandgaon to get the Chief minister's version on the allegations levelled. When confronted, CM Baghel on the Mahadev scam not only evaded the Republic crew but also seemed to get annoyed and hurriedly left the place.

''I have released the manifesto today and will not release a statement on any other issue today,'' Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said when asked pointedly on the specifics of the Mahadev scam.

Republic Newsbreak creates political tremors

Minutes after Republic TV released the alleged video of a man claiming to be Shubham Soni who seemed to implicate the CM’s office, the BJP lashed out at the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in the state and sought answers. Union Minister Smriti Irani said, ‘’The Chief Minister must answer about his Dubai connections."

BJP national president JP Nadda said, “The Congress government hasn't even spared 'Mahadev' for power”. He added that “Bhupesh Baghel, Kamal Nath and Ashok Gehlot are collectors of the Congress family."

The purported video accessed by Republic has thrown up startling allegations which the agencies will probe, if sources are to go by. The Congress government is yet to make a statement on these allegations made by the man claiming to be the owner of the Mahadev app. If proven true, this will be India's biggest political scam.

**Republic Media Network does not endorse or vouch for the statements, claims and allegations made by the individual(s) in the accessed video(s) and sting tapes.