Arrests Continue In Mahadev Betting App Case: Two With ‘Close’ Links To Other Accused Held

In another major development in the ongoing probe linked to the Mahadev online betting app case amounting to INR 15,000 Cr, two more persons were arrested by the enforcement directorate, officials said on Saturday (January 13).

The two accused, identified as Kolkata-based Nitin Tibrewal and Raipur-based Amit Agrawal, were arrested under several sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and produced before a special court in Raipur on Friday.

The court sent them to ED custody till January 17.

Founded by Ravi Uppal and Sourabh Chandrakar, Mahadev app, at the centre of controversy, is an online platform where users can engage in live gambling across various games, including poker, cricket, badminton and tennis, among others.

The scam gained attention following Chandrakar’s opulent wedding in Dubai in February 2023, allegedly costing north of INR 200 Cr, saw performances by the likes of Vishal Dadlani, Tiger Shroff, Sunny Leone, Neha Kakkar, Nushrratt Bharuccha, and many others.

Seven months later, the ED began its crackdown and announced that it unearthed the Mahadev app online betting scam and frozen assets and proceeds to the tune of INR 417 Cr.

According to the news agency PTI, Tibrewal is alleged to be a “close associate” of an accused in the case, Vikash Chapparia.

He allegedly purchased some “undisclosed” properties in Dubai and was a majority shareholder in a company in which Chapparia is also a shareholder, the news agency reported, citing ED sources.

The agency suspects these assets were bought using the “proceeds of crime” generated from the profits of the Mahadev app, it added.

On the other hand, Agrawal is said to be a relative of another accused in the case Anil Kumar Agrawal. 

Amit Agarwal is alleged to have received Mahadev app funds from Anil Kumar Agrawal and his (Amit Agrawal’s) wife is said to have purchased many properties in Dubai along with another accused in the case Anil Dammani.

Last month, one of the two main owners and accused in the case, Uppal, was reportedly detained in Dubai by the local police on the basis of a red notice issued by the Interpol at the behest of the ED.

Prior to that, the case was transferred to Mumbai Crime Branch. On November 14, an FIR was registered in Mumbai’s Matunga police station against 32 people, including the promoters of the app Chandrakar, Uppal and others, alleging a connection to the betting scam. It alleged their involvement in a fraud dating back to 2019, as stated by the police.

The report also included the director of Dabur Gaurav Burman and company chairman Mohit Burman under sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471, and 120 (B) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Mohit Burman had been listed as the 16th accused, while Gaurav Burman was the 18th accused in the Mahadev betting app scam.

While the investigation is ongoing, the two promoters have consistently denied any wrongdoing. At the same time, Bollywood celebrities Ranbeer Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Hina Khan and comedian Kapil Sharma were also called in for questioning.

The ED had also revealed that a forensic analysis and a statement from a cash courier have led to several shocking allegations. The promoters of the Mahadev betting app are accused of paying approximately INR 508 Cr to the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister. These claims are now under probe.

Earlier last month, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had clamped down on 22 illegal betting apps and websites, including Mahadev Book app.

The actions were initiated on November 5 following a directive from the ED.