Mahadev Betting Case: A significant development in the Mahadev betting app case is the arrest of Ravi Uppal, one of the two primary promoters, by Dubai police on the basis of an Interpol red corner notice that was requested by the Enforcement Directorate. Uppal was arrested last week, and according to sources, he will probably be sent back to India shortly. In addition to making a profit of ₹ 200 crore a day, the Mahadev app created political agitation prior to the Chhattisgarh elections in November.
Asim Das Claims Promoters Gave ₹ 508 Crore to Chhattisgarh CM
According to the Enforcement Directorate, Asim Das, a cash courier, had claimed that the app’s promoters had given then-Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel ₹ 508 crore. However, the courier claimed he was being set up as a part of a conspiracy and that he had never given money to politicians when he was brought before a judge.
Uppal’s Indian Status Unveiled Amid Passport Anomalies
The agency discovered during its investigation that Uppal had not renounced his Indian citizenship but had been “roaming freely” on Vanuatu’s passport, a nation in the Pacific Ocean. Using the passport, he had also applied for an Australian visa. The other app promoter, Sourabh Chandrakar, who hosted a ₹200-crore wedding in Dubai in February that was attended by a number of Bollywood celebrities, is still at large and is being sought after, according to ED officials.
Chandrakar and Uppal’s Key Roles in App Operations
As per the current ED investigation, Chandrakar and Uppal, who were based in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, but conducted their operations from Dubai, were the main driving forces behind the app. The two men and a number of other individuals ran a number of subsidiary betting apps, and call centres were run in various cities in India, Malaysia, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates. Over 30 call centres, including one in Chhattisgarh, were operating throughout India. This organization’s apps processed thousands of crores worth of transactions every day, and they made close to ₹ 200 crore every day in profit.
Chandrakar and Uppal’s Alleged Connections Unveiled
According to ED officials, Chandrakar and Uppal also had connections to politicians, bureaucrats, and the police. They also made regular payments to keep the app off the radar of investigatory agencies. Six persons have been taken into custody by the ED in connection with this case thus far: Sunil Damani, Anil Damani, Satish Chandrakar, a constable, and Assistant Sub-Inspector Chandrabhushan Verma of the Chhattisgarh Police.
Damani Brothers’ Key Role as Promoters’ Close Associates
Anil and Sunil Damani, brothers and close associates of the promoters, were in charge of the Indian operations. The Damani brothers allegedly opened multiple benami bank accounts, which were used to transfer money, according to ED officials. According to officials, the promoters used hawala channels to send money to the Damani brothers in Chhattisgarh, and Assistant Sub-Inspector Chandrabhushan Verma would bribe politicians, bureaucrats, and police officers with a portion of that money.
Anil Damani’s Admission to Police During Questioning
Anil Damani admitted to the police during his questioning that he and his brother had carried out transactions through hawala channels worth between ₹60 and ₹65 crore over the previous two to three years at Uppal’s request. “Anil Damani also said that the brothers ran a hawala channel through their jewellery shop in Raipur. Their call details have revealed that they were in constant touch with Uppal,” said an official. With a five percent stake in the company, Satish Chandrakar oversaw four call centres. According to officials, he also oversaw illicit financial transactions and had connections to the wanted drug dealer and gangster Tapan Sarkar.
Uppal and Chandrakar Disavow Connection to Mahadev App
Both Ravi Uppal and Sourabh Chandrakar have denied any involvement with the Mahadev app or the betting syndicate, claiming that Shubham Soni, a Dubai-based businessman, is in charge of both. Prior to the Chhattisgarh elections, a courier was discovered in possession of over ₹ 5 crore. He stated that Soni had given him the money. In a video that Soni had also released, it was claimed that the promoters of the Mahadev app had given Bhupesh Baghel ₹ 508 crore. The ED has summoned a number of Bollywood actors and other celebrities, such as Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kapil Sharma, for their roles in the app’s advertisements or for their performances at Sourabh Chandrakar’s wedding in Dubai.
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