The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Raipur has registered an FIR against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others in connection with the Mahadev Online Book app scam, valued at approximately Rs 6,000 crore, according to sources reported by news agency ANI on Sunday.
Chhattisgarh Police have filed a case naming Baghel as an accused in the Mahadev Online Book app scam, which could potentially pose legal challenges for the Congress leader ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The FIR, registered on March 4, includes charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), such as cheating, criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, and forgery, along with sections 7 and 11 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Baghel and 21 others have been named in the FIR, which alleges illicit activities and substantial financial irregularities by Mahadev Book App and its associated companies. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sent references to the state police earlier this year, indicating the involvement of top-level state government functionaries in allowing illegal activities of Mahadev in exchange for alleged "protection money".
The FIR further alleges that Mahadev Book App and its associated companies collected approximately Rs 450 crore monthly through illegal means, based on the findings of the ED. Although the FIR does not name senior police or administrative officers, it implicates unnamed bureaucrats, police officers, and officers on special duty (OSDs) during Baghel's tenure as CM.
The ED may initiate a fresh money laundering case against Baghel based on the contents of the FIR, as per sources. Baghel, who is set to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Rajnandgaon seat, has not yet responded to attempts to seek comment.
In its charge sheets, the ED alleges extravagant expenditures by Mahadev promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, including a lavish wedding ceremony in the UAE and substantial cash transactions. Assets worth Rs 572.41 crore have been seized