As voting began for the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly on Wednesday, a political controversy erupted involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and senior NCP leader Supriya Sule. The row stemmed from the release of a video clip allegedly revealing attempts to use Bitcoin transactions to influence the ongoing elections.

On Tuesday, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi shared audio clips purportedly featuring the voices of two opposition leaders. Trivedi claimed the clips exposed illegal use of Bitcoin to fund election campaigns, creating a storm just hours before voters headed to the polls.

After casting his vote in Baramati, Ajit Pawar publicly acknowledged the controversy, stating that he could identify the voices in the audio clips. “From the tone in the audio clips, I can identify the voices. One of them is my sister, and the other is someone I have worked with extensively. An inquiry will be conducted, and the truth will come out,” he told reporters outside the polling booth.

Supriya Sule, however, categorically denied the allegations and hit back forcefully. “I have filed a defamation case and a criminal case. I am ready to answer his (Sudhanshu Trivedi) questions wherever he wants. Time of his choice, place of his choice, and platform of his choice. I am ready to answer him because all the allegations are completely false,” she asserted.

Trivedi claimed the clips featured discussions between opposition leaders about Bitcoin transactions allegedly aimed at funding election campaigns. He alleged that the leaders, in the audio, were heard planning to deal with any inquiry after coming to power. He further suggested that a former IPS officer was also involved in the conversations.

“These are serious and dangerous allegations,” Trivedi said, demanding that Sule address whether the voices in the clips were hers and if the transactions were illegal. He also pressed Congress to clarify the involvement of its leaders in the alleged Bitcoin misuse.

Trivedi recalled previous accusations against the MVA government, particularly a claim that its home minister collected Rs 100 crore monthly. He accused the Congress and its allies of using digital transactions for corruption rather than public welfare.

Sule took to social media late Tuesday to respond to the allegations, dismissing them as part of a smear campaign. On X, she wrote, “We have filed a criminal complaint to the ECI & the Cybercrime Department against the fake allegations made of Bitcoin misappropriation. The intent and mala fide actors behind it are amply evident, condemn-worthy that such practices are taking place in a healthy democracy guided by the Constitution of India.”

She also criticised the alleged spread of misinformation aimed at manipulating voters ahead of the elections. “The timing of these baseless allegations shows a clear intent to mislead people in the run-up to the polls,” she said, condemning what she described as a tactic to tarnish her reputation and influence public opinion.

The controversy has intensified the already heated electoral battle in Maharashtra, drawing attention to the role of digital currencies in politics and the potential misuse of technology during election campaigns.