2 weeks after ED, CBI raids C’garh ex-CM’s residence in betting case
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday conducted raids at 60 locations across four states, including the premises linked to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in connection with the Mahadev app betting case.
The CBI’s action comes just two weeks after the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at the residence of Baghel, who is also the Congress incharge for Punjab. According to the probe agency, the searches were conducted in Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata and Delhi, including premises linked to politicians, senior bureaucrats, police officers, key functionaries of Mahadev Book and other private individuals who are suspected to be involved in the case.
The case pertains to the illegal operations of Mahadev Book, an online betting platform promoted by Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, both of whom are currently based in Dubai.
Initially registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), Raipur, the case was subsequently transferred to the CBI by the Government of Chhattisgarh for a comprehensive probe into the role of senior public officials and other accused persons.
“Investigations have revealed that the promoters allegedly paid substantial amounts as protection money to public servants to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted functioning of their illegal betting network,” a probe agency official said.
During Wednesday’s search operations, the official said that they have found and seized incriminating digital and documentary evidence related to the case.
Meanwhile, the Congress termed the raids as “political witch-hunt” and accused the BJP of “political malice”.
Chhattisgarh’s former Deputy CM TS Singh Deo said the BJP is deliberately diverting the attention of people from ground issues by raiding senior political leaders.
“It is highly condemnable that agencies are harassing former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel repeatedly. This is only a futile attempt by the BJP to tarnish Bhupeshji’s image. The BJP government of the state is proving incapable of running the state of Chhattisgarh. Hence, it is making such efforts to divert the attention of the people from the issues related to the public,” Deo said.
He said investigative agencies like ED have become a weapon to threaten and harass the Opposition. “This action being taken by the BJP out of political malice is a violation of democracy,” said Deo.
Chhattisgarh