The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a series of raids spanning over 15 locations nationwide on Wednesday, as part of its ongoing investigation into the Mahadev online betting and gaming app case. The targeted areas include West Bengal, Mumbai, and the National Capital Region, with the ED acting on information related to individuals suspected of involvement in the case.
This latest move by the federal agency comes on the heels of the arrest of two individuals, Nitin Tibrewal from Kolkata and Amit Agrawal from Raipur, in mid-January. Prior to these arrests, the ED had already apprehended Asim Das, Bheem Singh Yadav, Chandrabhushan Verma, Anil Kumar Agrawal, Sunil Dammani, and Satish Chandrakar. The agency has alleged that funds generated through illicit means via the Mahadev app were utilized for bribing politicians and bureaucrats.
In a previous operation conducted in November last year, the ED uncovered money laundering networks associated with the Mahadev Book Online Betting App. This effort resulted in the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 5.39 crore and a bank balance of Rs 15.59 crore.
The Mahadev app case has garnered attention beyond just financial circles, with several celebrities and Bollywood actors being summoned by the agency for questioning regarding their affiliations with the online betting platform and related financial transactions.
ED’s actions in the Mahadev app case have led to the filing of two charge sheets, targeting key figures including the main promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. Both promoters were recently detained in Dubai following an Interpol red notice, and efforts are underway to secure their deportation or extradition to India.
The first charge sheet alleges extravagant expenditures, including a lavish wedding in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, where approximately Rs 200 crore in cash was purportedly spent. Private jets were allegedly chartered to transport relatives, and celebrities were reportedly compensated for performances. The projected proceeds of crime in this instance are estimated at a staggering Rs 6,000 crore.
A second charge sheet, comprising around 1800 pages, was filed before a special court in Raipur on January 1st of this year. Among the five accused named in this fresh charge sheet are alleged cash courier Asim Das, police constable Bheem Singh Yadav, and Shubham Soni, a prominent executive linked to the app.
The Mahadev app case has not been without its political ramifications. ED previously asserted that the promoters of the app had paid approximately Rs 508 crore to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. However, these claims were refuted by Baghel and the Congress party, who characterized them as politically motivated attempts to tarnish his reputation.
Hailing from Bhilai town in Chhattisgarh, Chandrakar and Uppal’s association with the Mahadev online betting app has placed them squarely in the spotlight, with the case shedding light on the alleged illicit activities facilitated by the app.
