Union Minister Smriti Irani Accuses Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel of Being Remote-Controlled from Dubai

Smriti Irani, a union minister, said that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel will now be controlled remotely from Dubai, ostensibly alluding to his purported association with the UAE-based creators of the "Mahadev" betting app.

Speaking at a rally on Sunday in the state's election-bound Kondagaon assembly seat, she said that by breaking its pledge to outlaw alcohol, the Congress had betrayed the women of Chhattisgarh.

"This surprises me. I was unaware that Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel would now be run remotely by Dubai in order to maintain power. Up until now, it has been claimed that the remote originated in Italy, however it has now been discovered that there is another remote in Dubai. The guy is seen running with crores of rupees once the phone rings, the woman stated.

She was referring to a guy who was recently taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate in relation to the agency's investigation into the purported Mahadev betting app fraud, along with some cash.

The Mahadev betting app founders have allegedly paid the chief minister of Chhattisgarh around Rs 508 crore, according to "startling allegations" that the ED had said on Friday based on forensic analysis and a testimony from a "cash courier." The ED further stated that these claims are being looked into.

The ED claims that when the agency in Raipur seized cash valued at Rs 5.39 crore from the accused agent, 38-year-old Asim Das, he was taken into custody.

Irani said that the women of Chhattisgarh as a whole, not just those in Kondagaon, had been deceived by the Congress administration.

"In 2018, Congress made a door-to-door pledge to women that they would outlaw alcohol and make the state drug-free. Congress was elected on the basis of fraudulent promises made to the state's innocent women. She stated, "The Congress leaders stole Rs 2,000 crore by committing a liquor scam and stuffed their own coffers, instead of outlawing alcohol."

Twenty assembly divisions, including Kondgaon, will cast ballots on November 7 in the first of two phases of elections for the 90-member legislature. Sunday night saw the conclusion of the first round of polling campaigning.