In a shocking revelation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently uncovered the intricate operations of the Mahadev betting app, a sophisticated network that amassed a staggering ₹200 crore ($27 million) daily. This illegal enterprise has not only shaken the foundations of the betting world but also ensnared Bollywood celebrities, leading to high-profile investigations.
The Birth of Mahadev: Operated by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, both hailing from Chhattisgarh’s Bhilai, the Mahadev online betting app lured in customers through a complex web of deceit. The company constantly created new websites and closed chat groups on social media, running paid advertisements to entice users into texting their numbers for profit. These numbers could only be contacted via WhatsApp.
Once users were engaged, a customer care executive guided them through the process of creating a new User ID, providing two distinct numbers. One number was for depositing money and making bets, while the other was reserved for contacting customer care and encashing accumulated winnings. All financial transactions occurred through benami (anonymous) bank accounts, which had been fraudulently opened.
A Rigged System: Mahadev ensured that all bets and games were rigged to favor the company, preventing significant losses. Initially, new users might make profits, but in the long run, most would incur substantial losses, making it a profitable venture for the operators.
Call Center Network: Mahadev operated an extensive network of call centers across four countries: Malaysia, Thailand, India, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These centers ran 24/7, creating subsidiary apps and websites while interacting with customers.
Huge Profits and Hawala Transactions: The betting app recorded daily transactions worth thousands of crores (billions) of rupees, resulting in a daily profit of ₹200 crore ($27 million), according to the ED. Large-scale hawala operations were employed to funnel the proceeds offshore, evading scrutiny.
A Nexus of Corruption: Police officers, politicians, and bureaucrats were allegedly involved in sustaining the syndicate. Anil Dammani and Sunil Dammani, close associates of the Mahadev app operators, managed around 30 call centers in major Indian cities. They facilitated the transfer of money through hawala to ensure that the app remained off the radar of investigative agencies. During questioning, Anil Dammani revealed that he and his brother had been involved in illegal transactions worth ₹60 to 65 crore ($8 to 9 million) in the past two years.
Bollywood’s Involvement: Several Bollywood celebrities, including Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, and Hina Khan, were summoned by the ED for questioning. These actors had performed at a high-profile wedding in Dubai in February, receiving payments through hawala transactions. Ranbir Kapoor was also accused of promoting one of the apps operated by the syndicate. The actors’ interrogation is expected to shed light on the sources of the funds they received from the betting app.
The Mahadev app scandal has laid bare a web of illegal activities involving gaming, hawala transactions, and a web of corruption that spans borders and industries. As investigations continue, the revelations continue to captivate the nation, exposing the underbelly of illegal betting operations and their far-reaching consequences.
Sources By Agencies
