In a dramatic escalation ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP leader Vinod Tawde has urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to take immediate action against Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders Supriya Sule and Nana Patole. Tawde has accused the two leaders of being linked to an alleged “bitcoin scam” and using illicit funds to influence the electoral process.
Tawde’s Allegations on Social Media
Tawde, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), shared what he claimed to be a “viral audio and chat” implicating the two MVA leaders. He alleged that the scam was exposed by retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, who accused the leaders of utilizing illegal funds obtained through cryptocurrency fraud for their election campaigns.
“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. The people of Maharashtra will deliver their verdict through their votes tomorrow,” Tawde wrote, tagging both Sule and Patole.
Supriya Sule Responds, Calls Allegations Baseless
Responding to the allegations, NCP leader Supriya Sule issued a strong rebuttal, labeling the claims as “baseless” and politically motivated. She has filed a criminal complaint with the Election Commission and Pune’s Cyber Cell against BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi, who had earlier accused her of orchestrating the scam.
Denying the accusations, Sule challenged the BJP to a public debate. “I deny all the allegations leveled against me by Sudhanshu Trivedi. All this is conjecture and innuendo. I am ready for a debate with any representative of the BJP at a time and date of their choice, in a public forum,” she stated on X.
Legal Action Planned
Sule further announced that her legal team would be initiating both criminal and civil defamation proceedings against Trivedi. “Such baseless allegations are a clear attempt to mislead voters on the eve of elections. The BJP is using lies and misinformation as tools to manipulate the electorate,” she added.
Retired IPS Officer’s Claims
The controversy intensified after retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil accused Sule and Patole of being involved in a cryptocurrency fraud case dating back to 2018. He alleged that funds embezzled in the scam were funneled into election campaigns. Additionally, Patil implicated former Pune Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta and then-Cyber Crime Deputy Commissioner Bhagyashri Nautake in misappropriating bitcoins linked to the fraud.
ECI’s Role and Implications
As the elections approach, calls for the ECI to investigate the matter are growing louder. Tawde’s demand for immediate action could potentially influence voter sentiment, adding further intensity to an already high-stakes electoral battle.
The ECI has yet to comment on the allegations or whether it will launch an investigation. Meanwhile, the MVA and BJP continue to trade barbs, ensuring that the final hours before voting will remain charged with political tension.
