Officials say that Mahadev Online Book Betting app is an umbrella syndicate that enabled illegal betting websites to enroll new users, create user IDs and the laundering of money through a layered web of benami bank accounts. The company promoted by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppalis is believed to have run its operations from Dubai. Meanwhile, bribes were paid out to senior government functionaries as ‘protection money’.

The ED has conducted raids at 39 locations and seized illegal assets worth ₹417 crore in connection with the case. A PMLA special court at Raipur had also issued non-bailable warrants against the suspects.

Chandrakar’s wedding in Ras Al-Khaimah – paid for entirely in cash – had caught the ED’s eye earlier this year. The ED believes he hired private jets to ferry family members from Nagpur to the UAE and paid celebrities to perform at the venue. Wedding planners, dancers, decorators and more were hired from Mumbai with hawala channels being used to make payments in cash.

According to an ANI report quoting sources, Kapoor and other celebrities (from the film and sports industries) are also believed to have carried out promotional activities for the Mahadev betting app. 

The Enforcement Directorate earlier said that it had successfully identified the major players involved in the money laundering operations. Four people were arrested last month after searches in Chhattisgarh – including the chief liaisoner of the betting syndicate.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Updated: 05 Oct 2023, 08:41 PM IST