Watch: BJP, Congress leaders spar over alleged betting links involving C'garh CM Bhupesh Baghel

A day after the Enforcement Directorate alleged that the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel received Rs 508 crore from the promoters of the illegal betting platform Mahadev app, the Congress on Saturday rejected the allegations, calling it a 'malicious campaign".

In a joint press conference by senior leaders Jairam Ramesh, KC Venugopal and Abhishek Singhvi, the party said that the allegations are 'a clear-cut conspiracy to tarnish Bhupesh Baghel's image' and added that 'people will give befitting reply'.

Earlier, the BJP alleged that the Congress is funding their election expenses 'with the help of hawala operators'. In a press conference, Union Minister Smriti Irani said it was 'shocking that we have the use of hawala operation, illicit money through illegal betting to fund the Congress campaign'.