ED officials said preliminary investigation suggests the scam could be worth Rs 6,000 crore. A total of Rs 41 crore has already been provisionally attached by ED as proceeds of crime. (PTI)
Alleged kingpins of the scam and promoter of the Mahadev app Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have been named as the main conspirators by the ED. The agency has accused the duo of gambling and laundering money through the app
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed its first chargesheet (prosecution complaint) in the Mahadev App online betting scam against 14 people under sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Saurabh Pandey, the agency’s lawyer, has confirmed to CNN-News18.
The 197-page chargesheet names Saurabh Chandrakar, Ravi Uppal, Vikas Chhapariya, Chandrabhushan Verma, Satish Chandrakar, Anil Dammani, Sunil Dammani, Vishal Ahuja, Dheeraj Ahuja, Srijan Associates through Punaram Verma, Shiv Kumar Verma, Punaram Verma, Shiv Kumar Verma, Yashoda Verma and Pawan Nathani as accused. More than 8,800 pages have been cited as evidence.
ED officials said preliminary investigation suggests the scam could be worth Rs 6,000 crore. A total of Rs 41 crore has already been provisionally attached by ED as proceeds of crime.
Role of those charge-sheeted
Alleged kingpins of the scam and promoter of the Mahadev app Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have been named as the main conspirators by the ED. The agency has accused the duo of gambling and laundering money through the app.
Accused Satish Chandrakar has been named for facilitating the working of the Mahadev App when Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar fled to Dubai. “Satish paid money and bought the ID for the Mahadev App. This ID was then used to get others to place bets using the app. The proceeds were split 70-30 by Satish Chandrakar and the Dubai-based promoters,” Pandey explained.
A policeman, Chandrabhushan Rai, has also been named for laundering proceeds of the crime from the app and allegedly misusing his position as a cop to protect the suspects. Rai’s relatives, whose ventures were allegedly used to launder money, have also been named along with a travel agency owner in Bhopal.
Lens on Bollywood
Pandey told News18 that the next leg of the investigation is focusing on Bollywood stars, influencers, and TV actors who were allegedly paid through Hawala to promote the app.
ED officials said at least 19 A-listers, including those who performed at the wedding of Saurabh Chandrakar, are under the radar. “Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Huma Qureshi have been summoned for questioning but they are not cooperating. We are looking at the legal options we have,” Pandey told News18 at the Raipur district court after the prosecution complaint was filed. The court is likely to decide on cognizance on November 25.
Political Patronage
The decision on cognizance is likely just a week before election results for assemblies, including that of Chhattisgarh, are to be announced.
The ED lawyer said the next leg of the probe will be to uncover the allegations of political patronage to the promoters of Mahadev App. “There is evidence to suggest that some cops in Chhattisgarh actively colluded with the accused and provided them protection. It is a matter of probe if this was done at the behest of political masters.”
Home Minister Amit Shah, during his election rallies in Bastar, had declared that no one involved in the scam would be spared. “Kisi ko bakhsha nahi jayega,” he had said in Jagdalpur.
To counter his statement, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said it was the probe by his government that led to the look-out circular being issued against Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar. “Why are central agencies not arresting them?” he asked.
Pandey, meanwhile, said the agency will move soon for a Red Corner Notice against Uppal and Chandrakar.
Source: News18