In A Big Jolt To Enforcement Directorate In Mahadev App Scam, ‘Courier’ Asim Das Retracts ‘Money Was For Bhupesh Bhagel’ Statement
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will find it difficult to pursue the Mahadev App case against Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as one of the accused in the high-profile case has backtracked from his statement. The accused, Asim Das, an alleged “courier” who was “arrested” with over ₹5 crore in cash on November 3, has retracted his “statement” in a letter written to ED officials, as reported by NDTV.
The release of his letter after the Chhattisgarh elections holds political significance, as he was arrested with the money four days ahead of the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections.
According to the ED, Asim Das” statement claimed that Mahadev Betting app promoters had made payments of ₹508 crore to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The BJP, from its national leaders to state leaders, had vehemently attacked Baghel during the Chhattisgarh election campaigns, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading from the front.
Asim Das wrote a letter to the Director of ED from jail and said that he was being framed and he was coerced to sign a statement in which he ‘allegedly’ mentioned Bhupesh Baghel’s name. Notably, according to the report, the statement was in English and according to Asim Das, he does not understand the language.
“I am being implicated. I have never supplied money or any other assistance to any political leaders or workers,” Asim Das wrote in the letter after detailing the whole side of his story.
As per Asim Das, Shubham Soni, the alleged mastermind behind the illegal app and his childhood friend, had promised him to help with starting a business in Chhattisgarh and on the day he arrived at the Raipur airport, he was instructed to collect a car and register at a hotel on VIP Road. He was directed to position the car at a designated spot, where an individual subsequently loaded bags of cash into the vehicle and departed.
Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor and comedian Kapil Sharma were earlier summoned by the ED in connection with the Mahadev betting app scam.
