Why hasn't Centre arrested Mahadev betting app promoters despite lookout circular: CM Baghel
Raipur, Nov 4: Amid allegations against him in connection with the 'Mahadev' betting app, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday asked why the Centre was "not taking any action" against its promoters.
Talking to reporters in Raipur, he described the ED's press note released on Friday over its money laundering probe into the betting app as the BJP's second election manifesto.
In its press note, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that a forensic analysis and a statement made by a cash courier' had led to "startling allegations" that the promoters of the Mahadev betting app paid about Rs 508 crore to the Chhattisgarh chief minister so far, and that "these are subject matter of investigation".
The ED also claimed that it had recovered Rs 5.39 crore cash from the courier, whom it identified as Asim Das.
"These (BJP) people cannot fight directly so they resorted to ED and I-T to contest elections. Yesterday, two BJP manifestos were released. The first one was in Hindi on the letterhead of the BJP, while the other one was in English on the letterhead of ED," he said responding to a query on the betting app case.
Despite a lookout circular being issued against the promoters of the Mahadev betting app, they have not been arrested, said the Congress leader.
Baghel said allegations were levelled against him without carrying out any investigation.
"In (Union home minister) Amit Shah's words, understand the chronology. The PM comes, the home minister comes and before that, the ED comes and then arrests (accused person) from a hotel. What was the Election Commission doing? How money reached here," the chief minister asked.
Baghel asked why "Soni, Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal (allegedly involved in the case)" have not yet been arrested and the app is still not shut. "It means that PM ji and his party people have links with them. It is my direct allegation," he added.
A charge sheet was recently filed by the ED in the Mahadev app case where a total of 14 accused were named including main promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal.
"Large scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to off-shore accounts. Large expenditure in cash is also being done in India for advertising of betting websites and self-aggrandisement necessary to attract new Users and franchise (panel) seekers," the agency had earlier said.
Congress-governed Chhattisgarh goes to polls in two phases on November 7 and November 17.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Video of young men brandishing deadly weapons at wedding procession in Kalaburagi goes viral
Shimla (PTI): The management of the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities (AIMSS) here on Tuesday issued show-cause notices to the sanitation supervisor and sanitation workers after a dog was seen carrying an amputated human leg in its mouth near the hospital, officials said.
A video of the incident, which took place on Tuesday and triggered panic among people, is doing the rounds on social media. When the hospital security staff tried to take away the limb from the dog, it got aggressive and fled, leaving behind the amputated leg.
Taking cognisance of the incident, the hospital authorities ordered the constitution of a fact-finding committee comprising Nursing Superintendent Leelawati, Nodal Officer (Biomedical Waste) Rajesh Verma, and Matron Leela Bodh, the officials said.
The committee was tasked with investigating the matter, fixing responsibility and identifying lapses to prevent recurrence of such incidents. It was asked to submit its report by 5 pm on Tuesday.
According to the committee's report, a patient's leg was amputated above the knee on February 19 under the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery (CTVS) Department.
"The amputated limb was properly packed in a biomedical waste bag and stored in the Biomedical Waste (BMW) complex at AIMSS for disposal by the authorised agency, Enviro Engineers," it said.
"However, on the night of February 21, while shifting biomedical waste to the BMW complex, sanitation workers reportedly left the door of the waste complex open and unattended. It is suspected that during this time, a stray dog managed to pull the amputated limb out of the packed waste bag. The next day, an empty waste bag was found outside the BMW complex," it added.
The report further revealed that sanitation workers attempted to trace the missing limb but were unsuccessful. It was later recovered from the dog.
Based on the report, the hospital management has sought explanations from the sanitation supervisor and sanitation staff and stated that further disciplinary action will be taken based on their responses, the officials said.
Additionally, the sanitation contractor has been directed to strictly adhere to biomedical waste management protocols and the disposal agency has been instructed to ensure timely clearance of biomedical waste from the hospital premises in accordance with prescribed guidelines, they said.
