Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has intensified his scrutiny of the BJP-led Centre, posing questions about the response to a viral video allegedly featuring Union Minister Narendra Tomar’s son, Devendra Pratap Singh Tomar. The video purportedly shows Devendra Tomar engaged in discussions with a middleman about financial transactions worth crores of rupees. In the video, the man claims that Devendra Tomar has also purchased 100 acres of land abroad for cannabis cultivation.
Baghel shared a follow-up video on social media, featuring a man who identified himself as a resident of Canada. The man claimed that he was the one discussing financial transactions with Devendra Tomar in the original video. Baghel, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked when a probe would be initiated into the matter, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations and demanding actions similar to those taken based on an unconfirmed video and the statement of a driver against him.
This development adds a new layer to the political turmoil, giving the Congress fresh grounds to target the BJP. Devendra Tomar has vehemently denied the video’s authenticity, calling it fake. The BJP, in turn, escalated its criticism of Baghel after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed that a forensic analysis and a statement from a ‘cash courier’ suggested that the promoters of the ‘Mahadev’ betting app paid approximately Rs 508 crore to Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. The BJP presented a video in a press conference featuring an accused in the Mahadev case, who claimed to have given Rs 508 crore to CM Baghel.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders targeted Baghel over the betting app case during their campaigning for state elections. The second phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections is scheduled for November 17, coinciding with elections in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh. The first phase in Chhattisgarh occurred on November 7. Baghel’s call for an investigation into the viral video puts political pressure on the BJP-led Centre, especially amid the ongoing election dynamics in the region.
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