Smriti Irani attacks Bhupesh Baghel over alleged kickback received by him to fund Congress' poll expenses

Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday came down heavily on Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel over alleged kickback received by him to fund Congress' poll expenses in state.

The game of betting while being in power has become the face of Chhattisgarh Congress leadership, she said in a press conference. The minister said, "Yesterday, shocking facts regarding Bhupesh Baghel emerged before the country. More than Rs 5.30 Crores was seized from a man called Asim Das. Is it true that Congress leaders received money from Asim Das, via Shubham Soni? Is it true that Shubham Soni was ordered by Asim Das to go to Raiour and give money to Baghel as election expenses?"

The Enforcement Directorate claimed Friday it has recorded a statement of a 'cash courier' who alleged that the promoters of the Mahadev betting app have paid Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel till now, and that it is a "subject matter of investigation".

The courier, Asim Das, has been arrested by the agency after it recovered Rs 5.39 crore from him in the poll-bound state.

Irani said, Asim Das has confessed in his statement that he came to Dubai as ordered. "He was ordered that money be given for Congress' elections expenses. Asim Das has confessed that this money is from illegal betting under Mahadev App. Asim Das has confessed that Shubham Soni is a part of the top-level management of Mahadev Online Book," she added.