Elections in Maharashtra Disrupted by $78 Million Bitcoin Scandal
Elections in the Indian state of Maharashtra have been overshadowed by serious allegations of a $78 million cryptocurrency fraud and police raids. Maharashtra, the wealthiest state in India and home to the financial hub of Mumbai, has become a focal point of controversy between the ruling Mahayuti coalition, backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the opposition alliance MVA.
Opposition Leaders Accused of Stealing Bitcoins
Just days before the elections, a former police officer accused Supriya Sule, an MP from the opposition NCP (SP), of using confiscated bitcoins to fund her election campaign. Nana Patole, the state congress chief, was also implicated. The case involves bitcoins seized in 2018 during a police operation against cryptocurrency dealer Amit Bharadwaj, who was arrested in Pune.
Bharadwaj’s wallet allegedly contained bitcoins worth ₹6,600 million ($78 million). The whistleblower claims that the then-police commissioner of Pune, Amitabh Gupta, ordered the wallet’s exchange, and the original bitcoins were sold by Sule and Patole to finance the election campaign.
Controversy Over Voice Recordings and AI Usage
Prime Minister Modi’s BJP party quickly echoed the allegations, releasing voice recordings purportedly capturing Supriya Sule and others discussing cryptocurrency transactions.
Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Sule’s cousin, declared the recordings genuine and called for a formal investigation. “The voices of Supriya Sule and Nana Patole are authentic,” Pawar stated.
Sule, however, denied the allegations, calling the recordings fake, and filed a criminal complaint against the former police officer who accused her. “They are attempting to create a fake voice to lend credibility to their allegations,” she claimed.
On social media, debates continue over the authenticity of the recordings. Fact-checker Mohammed Zubair suggested that the monotonous rhythm of the voices indicates possible use of artificial intelligence.
Police Raids During Voting
During the voting process, police conducted a raid on the home of an individual accused of aiding Sule and Patole in the alleged bitcoin theft. The raid was reportedly carried out under the directive of the former Pune police commissioner.
Impacts on the Political Landscape
The bitcoin scandal has heightened tensions between ruling and opposition parties in India. While BJP uses the allegations to politically pressure its opponents, the NCP (SP) claims it is a targeted attempt to discredit them ahead of the elections. The situation remains highly contentious.
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