Indian Opposition MP under scanner for “Bitcoin for Polls”

A night before the assembly elections in Maharashtra, a political storm erupted as explosive allegations involving Bitcoin transactions rocked the state politics. The center of this controversy is Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule who has been accused of using Bitcoin funds to allegedly influence the polls, by politicians from the ruling party of Maharashtra.

Former IPS officer Ravindra Patil accused NCP MP and opposition leader Supriya Sule and Congress leader Nana Patole of using Bitcoin scam-tainted funds to influence the polls. The allegations, backed by purported audio clips, have sparked a fierce political war, with Sule denying the claims.

Speaking to reporters after casting her vote, Sule dismissed the accusations as “fake” and claimed the audio clips were fabricated with AI. “Not my voice. All these voice notes and messages are fake,” she declared. 

Sule also announced defamation and criminal cases against BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi, who presented the audio clips during a press conference. Trivedi alleged a conspiracy involving Sule, Patole, a former police commissioner, and a dealer to funnel illicit Bitcoin transactions to fund the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

“I am ready to answer his five questions anytime, anywhere,” Sule retorted, asserting her commitment to transparency. The NCP leader highlighted her history of opposing Bitcoin and cryptocurrency misuse and expressed confidence in law enforcement’s ability to identify the culprits.  

Sharad Pawar, NCP founder and Sule’s father, called the allegations baseless, accusing the BJP of orchestrating a smear campaign. “The person who made the allegations was in jail for several months. Only the BJP can do this,” he remarked.  

Meanwhile, BJP doubled down with tweets linking senior police officers and audit firms to the alleged Bitcoin scam, claiming cash was sent to Dubai to erase transaction data.

However, critics lambasted the party, accusing it of using AI-generated audio and failing to verify evidence before making public accusations.  

As Maharashtra’s 288 constituencies head to polls, the controversy has overshadowed the electoral battle, particularly in Baramati, where Sule faces a tough fight. With the BJP and MVA trading accusations, the election has become a heated clash of allegations and counterclaims.

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