The infamous casino organizer Chikoti Praveen, who is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for money laundering, is reported to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The speculation is rising as images of Praveen with several leaders of the BJP, including Bandi Sanjay, have surfaced in the public domain. Reports even suggest that he will be joining the party before the Telangana state elections.

The Telangana BJP members, however, were surprised by Praveen’s sudden visit to New Delhi. A BJP state party leader in Telangana said, “At this stage, we cannot say if he is joining the party or not. It could also be a casual visit.”

Praveen has been making headlines of late, most recently with his arrest by Gajwel police after he held a rally without permission to pay tribute to Maratha ruler Shivaji amidst communal tension after a person defiled Shivaji’s statue.

Prior to that, he was arrested in Thailand during a raid at a Pattaya hotel on charges of organizing an illegal underground casino with 80 others. The initial assumption was that Praveen had organized the whole operation as he is already known for organizing such casinos activities outside out the country.

He was later granted bail by a local court in Thailand and deported back to India. After reaching India, he was summoned by the ED who interrogated him on various allegations of money laundering.

During a recent media interview after his guards were taken into custody for the Gajwel stunt along with him, Praveen claimed that he was being targeted for supporting Hindutva and raising voice for Hindus.

Moreover, as per Siasat, it is also being said that political leaders from different parties have been visiting Praveen’s house in Saidabad, Hyderabad.