Bitcoin Scam Money Allegations in Maharashtra Elections: Supriya Sule & Nana Patole Involved, BJP Questions ‘Big People’ Mentioned

On November 20, voting for 288 assembly seats will take place in Maharashtra. However, just 12 hours before this, former IPS officer from Pune, Ravindra Nath Patil, accused that funds from a Bitcoin scam are being used in the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Ravindra told the news agency ANI that a Bitcoin dealer had informed him that the Member of Parliament from Baramati and Maharashtra Congress president are also involved in this matter. He claimed they had already sold Bitcoin worth Rs. 150 crore and still hold crores of rupees.

Following these allegations, the BJP held a press conference on Tuesday night, where spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi shared an audio of conversations between the dealer, Amitabh Gupta, Supriya Sule, and Nana Patole. He questioned, “Who are the big people the dealer is talking about?”

In response, Supriya Sule, the Member of Parliament from Baramati, filed a complaint against Ravindra Nath. She also posted on X (formerly Twitter) saying that BJP is engaging in dirty politics. She warned of filing a defamation case against Sudhanshu Trivedi.

Contents of the Voice Notes Shared by BJP

First Audio: This is a voice note sent by Gaurav Mehta, an employee of the Sarathi Associates audit firm, to Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta. In the audio, Gaurav speaks in English, saying, “We created four crypto wallets under the names of Patil and Ghode (Patil’s associates). Transactions were made from these wallets. If any investigation happens, we will trap only those two people (Patil and Ghode) in it. Trust me, no one will reach us.”

Second Audio: This consists of three voice notes sent by Supriya Sule to Gaurav Mehta. In the first note, Supriya says in English, “Gaurav, why aren’t you responding to us? We need cash immediately.” In the second note, Supriya expresses frustration, saying, “Your people are not responding. Don’t play games with us. What happened to the money? Gupta said you have all the money. Call immediately. The elections are on, and we need the money.” In the third note, Supriya asks, “Boss, why aren’t you converting all the Bitcoin into cash? The rates are favorable. We need funds. Don’t worry about the investigation. When we come to power, we will handle it. Just do this.”

Third Audio: This is a voice note from Nana Patole sent to Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta, where Nana is applying pressure, saying, “Amitabh, what happened to the money? Didn’t you ask about it yesterday? Stop playing games.”

Fourth Audio: These are four voice notes sent by Police Commissioner Amitabh Gupta to Gaurav Mehta. In the first note, Amitabh says, “Gaurav, delete all our chats, Bitcoin-related data, and BHR-related data.” In the second note, he mentions, “Next week we need 100 crores. Be ready. Vinod will give you 25 crores too; something big is going to happen. There should be no mistake from your side.” In the third note, Amitabh says, “Gaurav, we need 50 crores next week. It has to be delivered to someone in Dubai. Please tell your friend to keep the cash ready.” In the fourth note, Amitabh adds, “We need a little more Bitcoin next week. Tell your buyer to be ready.”

Supriya Sule Denies Allegations and Files Complaints with Election Commission and Cyber Crime

Following the allegations made by former IAS officer, Supriya Sule has filed complaints with the Election Commission and Cyber Crime about the misuse of Bitcoin. In her post, she wrote, “We have lodged a complaint against the false accusations of Bitcoin misuse with the Election Commission and Cyber Crime. The motive behind this is completely clear. It is condemnable that such incidents are taking place in a democracy established under India’s Constitution.”

Supriya also stated, “I deny all allegations made by Sudhanshu Trivedi. These are nothing but speculations and lies. I am ready to have a public discussion with any BJP leader on this matter; just choose the time and date.”

The Member of Parliament from Baramati further wrote, “It is shocking that Sudhanshu Trivedi made such baseless accusations, yet it is not surprising, as this is clearly an attempt to spread lies on the eve of the elections.”

Who is Ravindra Nath Patil, the One Making Allegations Against Supriya and Nana?

Ravindra Nath Patil is a former IPS officer of the 2004 batch. Since 2010, he has been working in the corporate sector as a cyber expert. He was appointed to conduct a forensic audit during the investigation of the 2018 Bitcoin fraud case. 

Four years later, in 2022, he was accused of embezzling Rs. 5 crore worth of Bitcoin. He spent nearly 14 months as an under-trial prisoner at Yerwada Central Jail. Currently, he is practicing law at the Bombay High Court.

Key Points from Ravindra Nath Patil’s Statement

• While in jail, Ravindra Nath Patil was reflecting on the situation, questioning what had happened and why he had been trapped. He mentioned that he was not alone and that others were also involved in uncovering the truth.
• He stated that Gaurav Mehta, an employee of an audit firm named Sarathi Associates, had contacted him multiple times over a span of 4-5 hours just two days ago. Gaurav shared details about the case during their conversations.
• Gaurav told Patil that when Amit Bhardwaj was arrested in 2018, he had a cryptocurrency hardware wallet. However, Amitabh Gupta, the then Commissioner, had replaced it with another wallet. Patil claimed that while he and others were arrested, the real culprits were Amitabh Gupta and his team.
• According to Patil, Gaurav Mehta frequently traveled to Dubai on Gupta’s instructions to convert Bitcoin into cash. He also claimed that the same cash was being used in the Maharashtra elections.
• Patil alleged that Gaurav had sent him several voice notes, including ones where Supriya Sule was demanding cash in exchange for Bitcoin.
• Gaurav Mehta had told Patil that he wanted to get out of this situation, but feared for his life. Patil claimed to have all the screenshots and audio recordings and was willing to submit them to the investigating agencies. He expressed his full willingness to cooperate in the investigation.