PUNE: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday claimed that the voices in the voice notes, in connection with the alleged attempts to encash bitcoins to influence the Maharashtra assembly polls, are indeed of NCP (SCP) Working President Supriya Sule and state Congress Nana Patole. Sule and Patole have denied the allegations, calling the voice notes fake.
BJP accused Sule and Patole of being involved in the ‘illegal bitcoin’ activities to fund the state elections. Some voice notes have also gone viral in connection with the issue, claiming to be of Sule and Patole.
Interacting with the media in Baramati after casting his vote, Ajit Pawar on Wednesday said, “The investigation into these allegations should be carried out to bring facts out in public. I also heard the voice notes. There are some people who mimic others’ voices to perfection. However, I know Patole from a long time as he was with me in the assembly, and I can say that the voices in those voice notes are indeed of Supriya and Patole.”
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Refuting the allegations, Sule claimed that the voice notes with her and Patole’s voice appeared to be AI generated. Replying to media in Baramati over Ajit Pawar’s claim, she said, “He is Ajit Pawar, he is capable of saying anything. As far as the issue is concerned, I already submitted a complaint application. It is unfortunate that some people are misusing the technology with mala fide intentions. A few days back, Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murthy’s fabricated video was circulated. Such clips are AI generated, and police will have to find out who is the mastermind behind these voice notes.”
Responding to BJP’s allegations of her involvement in Bitcoin manipulation for poll funding, Sule said, “BJP made false allegations, and I already denied all of those allegations. In fact, I also filed a defamation case. I have full faith in Maharashtra police that they will find the real culprits.”