Hours before Maharashtra underwent polling for the Assembly elections, former IPS officer Ravindra Nath Patil on Tuesday made explosive claims, alleging that NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule and Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole (both MVA partners) were involved in a cryptocurrency scam.

Following which, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday searched the premises of Gaurav Mehta, a witness in the 2018 cryptocurrency fraud case, in Chhattisgarh’s capital Raipur and scanned documents in connection with a money laundering probe.

Notably, Patil had accused the two leaders of using Bitcoin manipulation to fund election campaigns. He further alleged that the cash obtained from cryptocurrency dealings is being utilised in the current election campaign in Maharashtra.

Similar manipulation has been resorted to during Lok Sabha elections in 2024, he added.

Alleged crypto scam

Sharing the details of the whole scam, Patil explained that in 2018, his company had hired him (Patil) as a cryptocurrency expert to investigate the scam.

However, in 2022, he was arrested on fraud charges and spent 14 months in jail. During this time, he was trying to ascertain as to why he was framed. He and his colleagues continued working to get to the facts. And finally, they have come across startling facts, he added.

Patil revealed that a key witness in the case, Gaurav Mehta—an employee of an audit firm—had contacted him several times in the past few days. When Patil finally responded, Mehta shared details about the 2018 cryptocurrency fraud investigation.

Mehta alleged that during the arrest of Amit Bhardwaj, a cryptocurrency trader, a hardware wallet containing Bitcoin was seized.

However, according to Mehta, the wallet was replaced by another one allegedly under the direction of Amitabh Gupta, the then-Pune Police Commissioner.

Mehta claimed that Patil and his colleagues were arrested unjustly, while the real culprits were Gupta and his team.

Patil also accused Mehta of naming Supriya Sule and Nana Patole in the scam. Mehta alleged that they were using the cash obtained through Bitcoin manipulation to fund election campaigns, including the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the current Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Tussle between BJP and MVA parties

BJP National Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi on Tuesday raised five questions and alleged that both the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) partners were involved in the crypto fraud to fund Maharashtra election campaigns.

He showed some clips of interactions to consolidate his claims, and posed the questions to Congress:

1) Are Congress leaders involved in bitcoin trading; 2) Has Congress any links with dealers -- Gaurav Mehtra or Gupta; 3) Is Congress involved in the dialogues; 4) Who are these big people whose references have been made in the chats; 5) Has Congress used digital technology for corruption.

Moreover, BJP MP Dr Sambit Patra on Wednesday alleged the misappropriation was done on the directions of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sonia Gandhi.

Notably, Sule on Tuesday denied all these allegations levelled by the BJP MP, and said that she has filed a cyber fraud complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) against Gaurav Mehta and Ravindranath Patil.

Sule said that she was to file a defamation case against BJP on Wednesday.

State Congress spokesman Atul Londhe also denied charges levelled against Nana Patole and Sule by the BJP.

The Congress has also filed a complaint with the ECI and Cyber Crime against BJP leaders Pravin Darekar, Sudhanshu Trivedi, as well as Gaurav Mehta and Ravindranath Patil, for spreading fake news, fabricated video, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy.

The party general secretary Ravi Jadhav has alleged that the perpetrators behind this illegal activity are associated with the BJP IT Cell.

String of allegations by former IPS officer

Patil claimed that Mehta, under Gupta’s direction, made multiple trips to Dubai to convert Bitcoin into cash, which was then used to finance election activities in Maharashtra.

Patil told agencies that Mehta sent several voice recordings on ‘Signal’ – social media app – including messages from Supriya Sule requesting cash in exchange for Bitcoin.

In the recordings, Sule allegedly assured Mehta that there was no need to worry about the investigation, as they would handle it once they came to power.

Another recording reportedly featured Nana Patole, inquiring about the delay in the cash transaction.

Though the audio messages are available with agencies, they do not vouch for the veracity of the clips.

Gupta allegedly suggested that if an investigation took place, both Patil and his colleague, Ghode, would be implicated, and we would be safe, said Patil referring to chats with Gaurav Mehta.

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