Raipur, Chhattisgarh – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor to its Raipur office for questioning in connection with a money laundering case linked to the Mahadev Book Online gaming-betting app. Kapoor had promoted one of the Mahadev apps, and the ED is investigating the details of his fees and involvement in the promotion. Several sports personalities, including foreign cricketers, are also reportedly under the ED’s scrutiny in this case.
This development marks the first time that a Bollywood celebrity, among more than a dozen who endorsed or promoted the Mahadev apps, has been summoned for questioning in the case. Additionally, over 100 social media influencers were involved in the promotion of these apps, and some of them may also be summoned for questioning.
The ED’s money laundering case targets Mahadev Book Online, its promoter Saurabh Chandrakar, his partner Ravi Uppal, and other individuals associated with the platform. Chandrakar and Uppal, originally from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, have reportedly earned several thousand crores in recent years by operating illegal gaming-betting apps with the assistance of local associates. Following recent ED actions, key members of the Mahadev group have reportedly relocated to Dubai.
Mahadev Book Online operated multiple gaming-betting apps through panel operators based in Mumbai and Chhattisgarh. Sources indicate that the group generated a daily profit of Rs 200 crore.
Ranbir Kapoor, a social media influencer for the online betting platform, is known to have received payments for promotional activities related to the app. The ED is investigating various celebrities’ participation in the lavish wedding of Sourabh Chandrakar, the co-promoter of the online betting app, in Dubai. Some of these celebrities may be summoned as witnesses in the money laundering case against the platform.
Background: The Mahadev Online Betting App Case
The ED conducted searches in several cities, including Kolkata, Bhopal, and Mumbai, related to alleged money laundering networks associated with the Mahadev Online Book App, a betting platform headquartered in the UAE.
The case revolves around large-scale hawala operations allegedly being conducted through the platform to funnel proceeds of betting to offshore accounts.
Promoter Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have allegedly amassed substantial wealth in the UAE, drawing attention to the source of their newfound riches.
The platform’s promoter reportedly spent Rs 200 crore on a lavish wedding, prompting the agency to trace the money trail to establish the ultimate beneficiaries.
Celebrities who attended the wedding were purportedly paid hefty fees through dubious transactions. Promoters allegedly paid stars Rs 40 crore to participate in a party at a luxury hotel in Dubai.
The ED recently froze or seized assets worth Rs 417 crore related to money laundering activities linked to the platform. Notably, Kolkata-based Vikash Chhaparia, responsible for handling hawala-related operations for the betting platform, had invested heavily in India’s stock market. ED also froze cash derivative and security holdings worth Rs 236.3 crore in the name of entities beneficially owned by Chhaparia. Govind Kedia’s assets worth Rs 160 crore in DEMAT holdings were also frozen.
