In a dramatic escalation ahead of the Maharashtra elections, the BJP has accused opposition leaders Supriya Sule and Nana Patole of using illicit bitcoin transactions to fund campaigns. The allegations, supported by purported audio clips shared by BJP spokespersons Sambit Patra and Sudhanshu Trivedi, have sparked a war of words. However, a closer investigation reveals troubling questions about the authenticity of these claims.
The Allegations
BJP claims that Sule, a senior NCP leader, and Patole, the Maharashtra Congress chief, were involved in a cryptocurrency fraud that allegedly misappropriated ₹235 crore. The scandal supposedly dates back to 2018 and involves key players like IPS officer Amitabh Gupta and audit firm employee Gaurav Mehta. BJP alleges that the funds were used to influence past and current elections, amplifying concerns about fair democratic practices.
The accusations are backed by four audio clips, which allegedly feature voices of Sule, Patole, and Gupta discussing bitcoin transactions. BJP’s Sambit Patra called for opposition leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi to address the allegations, suggesting this was a broader conspiracy by the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance.
MVA’s Response
Both Sule and Patole have vehemently denied the charges. Sule dismissed the audio clips as “fake and AI-generated,” asserting that BJP’s allegations are a ploy to distract voters. She filed complaints with the Maharashtra Police and the Election Commission, calling the allegations “condemnable in a healthy democracy.”
Patole, while casting his vote, denied involvement, stating, “I am a farmer, not a bitcoin trader,” and announced plans to pursue legal action. NCP chief Sharad Pawar also came to Sule’s defense, dismissing the claims as baseless and questioning BJP’s credibility.
Fact-Checking the Audio Clips
BOOM, a fact-checking organization, analyzed the audio clips posted by BJP on X (formerly Twitter). The clips, claimed to be damning evidence, were tested using advanced deepfake detection tools. The findings reveal a different story:
- Clip 1: Featuring IPS Amitabh Gupta and Gaurav Mehta, this recording showed substantial evidence of AI manipulation.
- Clip 2: Allegedly featuring Sule discussing bitcoin exchanges, the voice did not match her publicly available interviews. AI tools confirmed significant manipulation.
- Clip 3: A brief five-second clip purportedly of Patole threatening Gupta, showed little evidence of AI manipulation, but its short duration made it challenging to authenticate conclusively.
- Clip 4: Another conversation involving Gupta and Mehta was also flagged for substantial AI-generated alterations.
Deepfake detection tools such as TrueMedia and the Misinformation Combat Alliance’s Deepfake Analysis Unit confirmed that three of the four clips were AI-generated. The fourth clip’s authenticity remains inconclusive due to its brevity.
Investigating the Source
The origins of these allegations trace back to former IPS officer Ravindranath Patil, who was reportedly involved in investigating a cryptocurrency fraud in 2018. Patil alleged that Sule and Patole misappropriated bitcoins from this case. However, Patil himself has faced legal trouble, including imprisonment for misusing a cryptocurrency wallet.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra dismissed MVA’s defense as routine denials, but the reliance on questionable evidence raises concerns about the credibility of the allegations.
Implications of the Scandal
The timing of these allegations, surfacing just hours before voting commenced, has drawn criticism. The MVA accused the BJP of orchestrating a smear campaign to influence elections. The use of AI-generated content, if proven, would represent a significant breach of ethical campaigning standards.
While BJP insists the claims are grounded in fact, the lack of corroborative evidence and reliance on dubious sources undermines their case. On the other hand, Sule and Patole’s swift legal and public responses indicate confidence in their innocence.
