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In the ongoing Mahadev online betting app case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken a significant step by filing a charge sheet. According to officials, the charge sheet lists 14 accused individuals. Notably, no celebrities have been implicated in the prosecution complaint, as clarified by the ED. The next hearing for the case is scheduled for November 25, 2023.
In a statement, the ED said, “ED has filed a charge sheet in the Mahadev app case at PMLA court Raipur on October 20, 2023. 14 accused have been named in the prosecution complaint.”
This development coincides with Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel raising concerns about potential election funding in exchange for not banning the betting app, pointing out that the central government holds the authority to impose such bans, not the state government.
The Mahadev Online Book Betting app has been at the center of a money laundering investigation. It operates as an umbrella syndicate that facilitates illegal betting websites, enabling them to onboard new users, create user IDs, and engage in money laundering through a complex network of Benami bank accounts.
Earlier in September, the ED disclosed details of its investigation into the online money laundering case linked to the Mahadev Online Book Betting app. The agency revealed that services like wedding planning, dance performances, and decoration were sourced from Mumbai, with hawala channels used for cash payments. Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, originating from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, were identified as the main promoters of the Mahadev betting platform, conducting their operations from Dubai.
In connection with the investigation, the ED conducted searches at 39 locations in Raipur, Bhopal, Mumbai, and Kolkata, seizing illegal assets valued at Rs 417 crore. The agency has also initiated international investigations. Additionally, a Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) special court in Raipur issued non-bailable warrants against the suspects.
