ED Summons Ranbir Kapoor In Connection With Mahadev Betting App Case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor on Friday (October 6) in connection with a money laundering probe against the promoters of Mahadev Online Book betting app, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. 

Kapoor allegedly promoted the online betting app on social media and received compensation for endorsing and engaging in promotional endeavours for the app, media reports said, citing ED officials.

As per a PTI report, Kapoor allegedly also received money for performing at the wedding of one of the promoters of the illegal betting app.

Earlier last month, the investigative agency froze and seized assets worth INR 417 Cr in connection with the Mahadev app after conducting searches at multiple locations in Mumbai, Bhopal, and Kolkata. 

The ED’s investigation revealed that Mahadev app was being run from Dubai and used an online book betting application to enrol new users and launder money through a layer of benami bank accounts. 

“M/s Mahadev Online Book is run from a central Head Office in UAE and operates by franchising “Panel/Branches” to their known associates on a 70%-30% profit ratio. Large scale hawala operations are done to syphon off the proceeds of betting to off-shore accounts. Large expenditure in cash is also being done in India for advertising of betting websites & self-grandizement necessary to attract new users and franchise (panel) seekers,” the ED said in a statement. 

The ED alleged that the promoters of the app spent INR 200 Cr in cash for the marriage of Chandrakar, which took place in Dubai earlier this year. They even hired private jets to ferry family members from Nagpur to Dubai. 

According to India Today, the wedding was attended by Bollywood celebrities like Sunny Leone, Tiger Shroff, Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Bharti Singh, and Neha Kakkar among others. Other actors and singers are also likely to be summoned in the case, the publication said.

While the company’s operations are banned in India, the promoter duo run the operations of the app in various other countries. 

While the ED is investigating the matter, a PMLA Special Court in Raipur has also issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against suspects in the case. 

According to reports, Chandrakar and Uppal, who are currently in the UAE, attempted to visit Australia but were denied entry due to the ongoing investigation in India.