The Enforcement Directorate on Friday said that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has been paid Rs 508 crore till now by promoters of the Mahadev betting app, reports news agency PTI. The explosive claim comes barely four days before the first phase of polling in Chhatisgarh scheduled for November 7.
As per the central probe agency, it has recorded the statement of one Asim Das, a “cash courier”, who was arrested with Rs 5.39 crore cash in the poll-bound state. As per the agency, Das has alleged that Rs 508 crore has been paid to CM Baghel by the promoters of the betting app. The ED has recorded his statement.
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“From the questioning of Asim Das, and from the forensic examination of the phone recovered from him, and examination of an email sent by Shubam Soni (one of the high-ranking accused of Mahadev network) many startling allegations have come forth, namely, that regular payments have been made in the past and so far around Rs 508 crore have been paid by Mahadev APP promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh,” a statement by the ED read.
“These are subject matter of investigation,” it added. The Mahadev online betting app and its promoters are currently in the dock and facing investigation on charges of money-laundering.
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What is the Mahdev betting app case?
As per the ED, the Mahadev Online Book app provides online platforms for illegal betting in different live games such as poker and other card games, chance games, cricket, badminton, tennis, football among others. It also provides an avenue to bet on different elections in India besides offering a facility to play several card games such as ‘Teen Patti’, poker, ‘Dragon Tiger’, virtual cricket games, and more.
The ownership of the company lies with Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who allegedly provided online avenues for illegal betting on live games, including cricket, tennis, badminton, poker, and card games.
Their illicit operation has been active for the past four years. Chandrakar and Uppal hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and the Mahadev online book betting application is linked to a syndicate that facilitates online platforms for unlawful betting websites.
Chandrakar’s company is suspected to have amassed approximately Rs 5,000 crore through this scam. Furthermore, the owners of the Mahadev online betting app are alleged to have ties to Pakistan and connections with local businessmen and hawala operations.
The ED initiated an investigation into 28-year-old Sourabh Chandrakar following his lavish Rs 250 crore wedding in the UAE. This event led investigators to uncover alleged hawala operations and connections in the UAE and Pakistan.
The ED has consolidated at least seven FIRs filed by victims who lost their money to the scam, with FIRs spanning locations such as Goa, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, and Chhattisgarh.