On the eve of the Maharashtra Assembly elections 2024, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accused Baramati MP and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Supriya Sule, along with Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole, of involvement in a “bitcoin scam.” The allegations, raised by former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, sparked controversy as the state heads to the polls.
Patil alleged that Sule and Patole misappropriated bitcoins linked to a 2018 cryptocurrency fraud case, claiming the funds were being used to influence the ongoing elections. He further implicated Amitabh Gupta, then Pune Police Commissioner, and Bhagyashri Nautake, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police for Cyber Crime, in the alleged mishandling of bitcoins. Patil expressed readiness to cooperate with an investigation.
BJP’s Claims and Evidence
During a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi presented three audio clips, purportedly implicating Sule and Patole in a scheme to encash bitcoins to manipulate the electoral process. The BJP asserted that these revelations raised serious concerns about the fairness of the elections. However, the authenticity of the audio clips has not been independently verified.
Supriya Sule Denies Allegations, Files Complaints
Supriya Sule dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” expressing amusement at the BJP’s “desperate” tactics. In a strong rebuttal, she challenged Trivedi to a public debate at a time and place of his choosing.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Sule wrote:
“I deny all the allegations levelled against me by Sudhanshu Trivedi. All this is conjecture and innuendo. I am ready for a debate with any BJP representative at a public forum of their choice.”
Sule has since filed a criminal complaint with the Election Commission and Pune’s Cyber Cell. She also announced plans to pursue defamation cases against Trivedi, accusing him of spreading false information deliberately on the eve of the elections.
Legal Action and Political Ramifications
In a statement, Sule called the allegations an attempt to deceive voters:
“It’s appalling that such baseless allegations are made by Mr. Sudhanshu Trivedi. My lawyer will issue a criminal and civil defamation notice against him for making outrightly false claims.”
The BJP’s last-minute allegations have stirred controversy, raising questions about their potential impact on the electoral process in Maharashtra. The fallout from these claims could have significant political and legal implications in the days ahead.
