Edited by Deepali Verma
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has inked the name of former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, in a supplementary chargesheet filed on January 1, 2024. The chargesheet carries the allegations of bribery receptions amounting to approximately ₹ 508 crore from the promoters of the Mahadev App.
According to the ED chargesheet, Mahadev App promoter and accused Subham Soni made startling revelations during the course of investigation. The charge sheet lists the names of several other accused individuals, such as Anil Kumar Agrawal alias Atul Agrawal, Rohit Gulati, Bhim Singh Yadav and Asim Das.
The filing of the supplementary charge sheet was done before the special court for PMLA cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act at Raipur, Chhattisgarh on January 1, 2024. As per the ED, Asim Das’ statement, disclosed that Subham Soni, a prominent figure in Mahadev Online Book, instructed him to deliver a substantial amount of cash to Bhupesh Baghel.
The charge sheet reveals that Das was called to Dubai by Soni on October 25, 2023, and handed the due cash to be delivered to Baghel. A voice message recovered from Das’s phone further cements the claims, where Soni is instructing him to deliver 8-10 crore rupees to Baghel upon returning to Bharat.
The supplementary chargesheet points out that on November 2, 2023, the ED intercepted Asim Das and seized cash nearing ₹ 5.39 crore from his premises. This cash was allegedly in circulation by Mahadev App promoters to a select politician in Chhattisgarh, claimed ED statements.
Subham Soni’s email correspondence and statements from other witnesses, including Chandrabhushan Verma, showcases that Bhim Singh Yadav acted as a conduit for Mahadev Online Book in the payment of “liaisoning money”.
Previously, Bhim Singh Yadav’s involvement in the delivery of the “liaisoning money” was disclosed by Chandrabhushan Verma with his statement being recorded under section 50 of PMLA, 2002.
