“Rama Krishna Hari”: Supriya Sule reacts to cousin Ajit Pawar’s bitcoin controversy

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar announced today that an inquiry will be launched into the bitcoin fraud allegations involving his cousin, Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. The allegations, raised by retired IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, accuse Sule and Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole of involvement in a cryptocurrency scam dating back to 2018. Patil claimed these funds were used in election campaigns.

Ajit Pawar responded to the allegations by stating, “An inquiry will be done, and the truth will come to light.” He acknowledged that audio clips implicating Sule and Patole had surfaced but emphasized that an investigation would clear the air. Pawar added that, based on the tone of the voices in the clips, he could identify them, but he stressed the importance of a thorough inquiry.

This controversy arises amid the ongoing split within the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with two factions led by Ajit Pawar and his aunt, Supriya Sule. The 2023 NCP split saw Ajit Pawar join the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition. Both factions are now vying for public support, making this election a crucial battle.

The BJP seized on the allegations, with Rajya Sabha MP Sudhanshu Trivedi claiming that the audio clips referred to illegal bitcoin transactions intended to influence elections. Trivedi raised five key questions about the authenticity of the audio and the involvement of key individuals, including Sule and Patole.

Supriya Sule vehemently denied the accusations, calling them “baseless” and “false.” She challenged the BJP to a public debate on the matter and said she would file defamation charges against Trivedi. Sule dismissed the claim that the voice in the audio clips was hers, referring to Ajit Pawar’s statement with a smile, saying, “He is Ajit Pawar, he can say anything. Rama Krishna Hari.”

Sule also filed a complaint with the Election Commission and the Cyber Cell in Pune, while her father, NCP founder Sharad Pawar, denounced the allegations, pointing out that the person making the claims had been jailed for months. He accused the BJP of orchestrating a political conspiracy. Patole echoed Sule’s response, calling the allegations part of a broader BJP plot.