In an ED investigation, it revealed that Mahadev Ebook is operated by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, and are the principle promoters of the app, working their operations from Dubai. A number of hyperlinks have been allegedly discovered to be related to policemen, politicians, officers in state and probe was underway.
“Can there be a much bigger joke?…” Bhupesh Baghel after ED allegations of receiving ₹508 cr from Mahadev betting app promoters
An announcement issued by MeitY on Sunday late mentioned that it has issued orders to dam 22 unlawful betting apps and web sites, together with the Mahadev Ebook app and Reddyannaprestopro.
“The motion follows investigations performed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in opposition to unlawful betting app syndicate and subsequent raids on Mahadev Ebook in Chhattisgarh, revealing the app’s illegal operations,” the discharge mentioned.
Union minister of state for talent growth and entrepreneurship, and electronics and Info Expertise, Rajeev Chandrasekhar mentioned, “Chhattisgarh Authorities had all the facility to suggest shutting down of web site/app beneath Part 69A IT Act. Nonetheless, they didn’t accomplish that and no such request is made by the state authorities whereas they’ve been investigating it for final 1.5 years. In actual fact, the primary and solely request has been obtained from ED and it has been acted upon. Nothing prevented the Chhattisgarh authorities from making related requests.”
Nonetheless, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel in his interplay with reporters in Raipur had mentioned on many events that the Centre ought to examine and raid places of work of Mahadev Ebook case situated in huge cities and put a ban on the operations of such apps in stead of selling them.
The MeitY additional added that accused Bhim Singh Yadav, working as a constable in Chhattisgarh police power and one Asim Das are presently in custody, having been arrested beneath Part 19 of the Prevention of Cash Laundering Act (PMLA) for fee of the offence of Cash laundering beneath part 3, punishable beneath part 4 of PMLA, 2002.
How the Rs 5,000cr Mahadev app racket works
Mahadev App, and related apps like Reddy Anna & Ambani Ebook are on-line satta platforms and an estimated transaction price Rs 5,000 cr have taken place previously yr by way of Mahadev app. The ring leaders are in Dubai, the place betting is authorized, and the community has round 30 centres in India.
The leaders contact native folks excited by working the net satta; ‘contracts’ are given for cost of Rs 10-20 lakh for working one guide. 10-20% dividend is obtainable for working every guide.
The events then arrange on-line gaming platforms utilizing laptops, cellphones and financial institution accounts and make use of 3-4 folks to run the 24×7 operation. The ‘head workplace; of satta platforms settles the account for every department each Monday.
The racket is managed from Dubai, from the place OTPs are despatched by way of WhatsApp and internet for working the system. Advertisements are issued on social media and the betting cash is collected by QR code & UPI.
The ring leaders fraudulently acquire financial institution particulars of account holders and use them for routing cash. Lots of these arrested had allowed their financial institution accounts to be willingly or unwittingly used for the racket.
Mahadev app makes use of pretend financial institution accounts and cons folks to extract their Aadhaar particulars. In Dec 2022, ED had requested Durg police to supply particulars of the case for investigation beneath PMLA.