‘Fake, not my vote’: Supriya Sule denies allegations of bitcoin transactions in Maharashtra elections

Lok Sabha MP and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Supriya Sule has strongly denied allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that it was involved in illegal Bitcoin transactions aimed at influencing the elections for the Maharashtra Assembly. Speaking to reporters after casting her vote on Wednesday, Sule described the claims as “fake” and claimed: “Not my vote. All these voice notes and messages are fake.”

The controversy erupted on Tuesday after a press conference where BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi presented audio clips and accused Sule, along with Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole, of conspiring with a former police commissioner and a dealer to carry out illegal transactions at for the benefit of the opposition alliance. Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

Sule responded by stating that the audio was fabricated and expressed confidence that law enforcement would identify those responsible. “I have spoken out against Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. I am someone who has raised serious issues about it,” she pointed out, reiterating her commitment to transparency and her willingness to answer all questions posed by the BJP.

Moreover, Sule confirmed that she had sent Trivedi a smear message and expressed her willingness to confront him publicly. “I am ready to answer Sudhanshu Trivedi at any time, in any city he wants, on any channel he wants,” she stated while categorically denying the allegations.

NCP leader Ajit Pawar also defended his sister, claiming that he recognized her voice and supported a thorough investigation into the claims. “I am confident that there is no dubbing in the audio clips. I support an investigation,” he said.

Sharad Pawar, the founder of the NCP and Sule’s father, supported his daughter and criticized the BJP for leveling what he called baseless allegations. “The person who made the accusations spent several months in prison; only the BJP can do this,” he noted.

Trivedi, during his press conference, detailed the alleged involvement of a dealer and a former police officer in Bitcoin transactions, claiming that the dealer named Sule and Patole as part of the scheme. He also presented screenshots of conversations that showed MVA leaders seeking money for the elections.

The BJP’s allegations against Sule and Patole came to light soon after the opposition accused BJP general secretary Vinod Tawde of involvement in a ‘cash for votes’ scandal, an allegation Tawde and the BJP have denied.