Bitcoin Bomb Hits Aghadi Hours Before Maharashtra Polls, BJP Says MVA Exposed; Supriya Sule Reacts

New Delhi: In a late evening press conference on eve of Maharashtra polls, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed to expose Maha Vikas Aghi ‘bit by bit’. During press conference, BJP presented an alleged ‘video and audio’ in which a female voice, allegedly of NCP (Sharchandra Pawar) MP Supriya Sule, can be heard saying, "Need cash in exchange for bitcoins. You need not worry about any inquiry; we will handle it once we come to power." In alleged video shared with media by BJP, Sule is allegedly speaking to Gaurav Mehta, an employee of audit firm Sarathi Association.   

Note: Republic Media Network, across platforms and mediums of operation, cannot vouch for aunticity of alleged audio tapes, screenshots and recordings as released by BJP. 

Bharatiya Janata Party also shared alleged screenshots of Signal chats between Gaurav Mehta, an employee of audit firm Sarathi Associates and ex-IPS Ravindranath Patil.

presser comes minutes after Ravindranath Patil, a former IPS officer from Pune me a big allegation against NCP-SCP Leer and Baramati MP Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole. former IPS officer alleged that two leers h misappropriated bitcoins from a 2018 Cryptocurrency Fraud Case and h used same to fund ongoing Maharashtra Assembly Elections. Patil says he is rey to support investigation. 

Crypto Charge Against Sule, Patole in Maharashtra

• Speaking to reporters, Trivedi said press was invited late at 10 PM, reflecting gravity of issue. 
• “Very serious and concerning facts have come to light which is exposing true face of Maha Vikas Aghi bit by bit. For this bit by bit exposure, bytes are also available. So in my opinion, it is posing a serious question of how a free and fair election can be conducted...”, said BJP leer. 
• allegations me by a former bureaucrat pose a big concern for democratic fabric of nation, BJP national spokesperson stated, ding that a detailed inquiry will be set up to investigate facts and allegations that have emerged.
• revelations demand immediate attention to ensure that free and fair elections are safeguarded, said Trivedi. 
• “An accused dealer contacts a former police officer who has been jailed earlier due to some allegations and tells him that he ( alleged dealer) wants to do some transactions of bitcoin in cash. police officer declines his request. But dealer tries to convince him as few 'big people' are involved in this matter and he allegedly takes names of Nana Patole and Supriya Sule. When police officer doesn't show any trust in this, dealer sends him audio clips. As per claims of dealer, re is mention of need for money for elections in those audio clips...”, Trivedi claimed, posing five questions Congress.  

BJP's 5 Questions to Congress

• Are you (Congress) involved in Bitcoin transaction? 
• Are you in contact with this person named Gaurav Gupta or Mehta? 
• chats are yours (of your leers) or not? 
• audio in audio clips is yours or not? 
• Who are 'big people'?

Supriya Sule Reacts 

• Denying all charges, Supriya Sule said, "I deny all allegations levelled against me by Sudhanshu Trivedi. All this is conjecture and innuendo, and I am rey for a debate with any representative of BJP at a time and date of ir choice, in a public forum. It’s appalling that such baseless allegations are me by Mr Sudhanshu Trivedi, yet not surprising as it’s a clear case of spreing false information, night before elections. My lawyer will be issuing a criminal & civil defamation notice against Sudhanshu Trivedi for making outrightly false allegations with an intent to deceive public at large."   

• She also stated that y have filed a criminal complaint to ECI & Cybercrime department against allegations.  
• "Familiar tactics of spreing false information to manipulate righteous voters are being resorted to, a night before polling day. We have filed a criminal complaint to Hon’ble ECI & Cyber crime department against fake allegations me of bitcoin misappropriation. intent and mala fide actors behind it are amply evident, condemn worthy that such practices are taking place in a healthy democracy guided by Constitution of India", Sule said in a tweet on X. 

What Former IPS H Alleged? 

A former IPS officer alleged that Amitabh Gupta, n Commissioner of Police, Pune, and Bhagyashri Nautake, n Deputy Commissioner of Police handling Cyber Crime Investigations were involved in misappropriation of bitcoins, which are eventually being used by two political leers. 

allegations against Patole and Sule follow an incident of high drams on Tuesday after workers of Bahujan Vikas Aghi (BVA) created a ruckus outside a hotel located at Nalasopara assembly constituency in Palghar district accusing BJP of “distributing money.”

Who is ex-IPS Ravindranath Patil?

Ravindranath Patil is a former IPS officer of 2004 batch and since 2010, he was working as a Cyber Expert in corporate sector. During investigation of 2018 Bitcoin Fraud Case, he was appointed to conduct a forensic audit. Four years later, he was named as an accused for alleged misappropriation of bitcoins amounting to 5 Crores, and he spent nearly 14 months in Yerawa Central Prison as an undertrial. Currently, he is a practising vocate in Bombay High Court.  

Cash For Vote vs Bitcoin Charge | How it All Started?

It all started when BVA workers created a ruckus outside Vivanta Hotel in Virar where BJP leer Vinod Tawde was holding a meeting with party workers. Notably, Vinod Tawde dismissed charge levelled by BVA that BJP was "distributing money" ahe of upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

"A meeting of MLAs of Nalasopara was underway. I went re to tell m about Model Code of Conduct for day of voting, how will voting machines be sealed and how to go about if an objection has to be me. workers of party (Bahujan Vikas Aghi), Appa Thakur and Kshitij thought that we were distributing money. Let Election Commission and Police inquire, let m get CCTV footage. I have been in party for 40 years. Appa Thakur and Kshitij know me, and entire party knows me. Still, I believe that Election Commission should conduct an impartial investigation," Tawde said.

Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20. counting of votes will take place on November 23.

Note: Republic Media Network, across platforms and mediums of operation, cannot vouch for aunticity of alleged audio tapes, screenshots and recordings as released by BJP.