The Indian Enforcement Directorate (ED) has transmitted vital paperwork to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to expedite the extradition of two pivotal figures associated with the Mahadev online betting application—Ravi Uppal and Sourabh Chandrakar.
Both individuals, domiciled in Dubai, act as the principal promoters of the contentious gambling platform. This action ensued shortly after the ED lodged a fresh indictment against five accomplices of the masterminds, deepening the ongoing probe into alleged money laundering in the domain of online casinos.
Inhabitants of Vanuatu
The ED had initiated the process of issuing a Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Chandrakar, aged 28, and Uppal, aged 43, both originally hailing from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, in Central India.
At the behest of the ED, Interpol issued the RCN resulting in Uppal’s apprehension by Dubai’s immigration authorities. Consequently, Chandrakar, an associate of Uppal, also faced charges.
Given that both individuals hold citizenship in Vanuatu, an archipelago nation in the Pacific Ocean, extradition proceedings are anticipated.
Task force dispatched to Dubai
A specialized team was dispatched to Dubai to finalize requisite legal formalities and instigate the extradition process. Chandrakar and Uppal purportedly have resided in Dubai for nearly two years, overseeing their operations from the city and retaining a substantial 80 percent of the proceeds generated by the Mahadev app. It is alleged that they have amassed approximately Rs 5,000 crore from their activities in online casinos. The exact figure is subject to confirmation upon their extradition.
Concurrently, a fresh 1,800-page prosecution complaint was lodged against five individuals on January 1, including purported cash courier Aseem Das, police constable Bheem Singh Yadav, and Shubham Soni, a notable executive associated with the app. The ED has forwarded this new complaint to the MEA, urging collaboration with Dubai authorities for the extradition process. The specialized Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court is slated to acknowledge the charge sheet on January 10.
The Mahadev online gambling case has witnessed myriad twists and turns, with prior detentions of Das and Yadav in November. Soni, who claimed ownership of the app, released a video statement alleging kickbacks paid to politicians for the app’s unimpeded operation. The ED’s initial charge sheet implicated Chandrakar, Uppal, and others, with Das subsequently asserting that he was framed as part of a conspiracy. The ED’s allegations in the initial charge sheet delineated Chandrakar’s lavish wedding in the UAE, involving substantial cash outlay and celebrity attendance.
Backdrop of the Mahadev online gambling case
The Mahadev Satta App, under intense scrutiny for purported money laundering and illicit gambling, is an online platform enabling users to wager on a plethora of games. Operating as the Mahadev Gaming app, it facilitates live betting across various domains, encompassing poker, card games, badminton, tennis, football, and cricket. The intricate operation purportedly garners a daily turnover of Rs 200 crore, orchestrated through closed groups on instant messaging platforms.
Hawala operators
Owned by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the masterminds behind the app, this gambling enterprise has been operational for four years, amassing an estimated Rs 5,000 crore. The app is intertwined with a syndicate supporting illicit betting websites, with suspected links to Pakistan and ties to local hawala operations.
As the investigation unfolds, the Mahadev online gambling case has brought to light a nexus of illicit activities with international ramifications.