Mahadev app, allegedly orchestrated by Dubai residents Saurabh and Ravi Uppal, operates from Dubai due to the legality of betting activities in the region, even as they cater primarily to the Indian market.
Bollywood luminary Ranbir Kapoor finds himself entangled in a legal web, as the Enforcement Directorate summons him over his alleged involvement in the Mahadev online betting app case.
Kapoor, alongside other high-profile figures, is currently under scrutiny for his role as a social media influencer promoting the controversial platform. The investigation centers on suspicions that he received financial remuneration for actively endorsing and engaging in promotional activities for the online betting app.
This legal inquiry expands its scope to include Kapoor’s participation in the opulent wedding of Sourabh Chandrakar, a key figure in the promotion of the Mahadev app, which unfolded extravagantly in Dubai.
About the Mahadev App?
At the core of the investigation lies the Mahadev app itself, a platform accused of enabling illegal betting on a diverse range of online games, spanning poker, card games, chance games, badminton, tennis, football, and cricket.
The app, allegedly orchestrated by Dubai residents Saurabh and Ravi Uppal, operates from Dubai due to the legality of betting activities in the region, even as they cater primarily to the Indian market.
Delving into the intricate details of the Mahadev app scam, it becomes apparent that the platform had multiple branches across India. To establish a branch, an investment of around ₹20 lakh was required, granting the investor the title of an ‘admin’ with the authority to assign unique IDs to customers.
These branches, in turn, recruited agents who earned commissions ranging from 6 to 8 percent when clients placed bets. The process of acquiring users involved agents generating IDs through communication channels like Telegram and WhatsApp. Users were then provided with an ID and password to access the app for betting, while branch managers, equipped with laptops, mobiles, and other gadgets, facilitated the online betting experience.
One of the intriguing aspects of the Mahadev app’s operation was its organic growth through word-of-mouth referrals, accumulating a significant user base of 30-40 lakh customers, thereby enhancing its credibility in the market. Payments for betting activities were predominantly made through UPI-based systems, a factor that later facilitated law enforcement in tracking down the bettors.
The case came to light following a raid conducted by the Durg police in Bhilai on March 30, 2022, prompted by a tip-off regarding online betting through the Mahadev app. Subsequent investigations led to the registration of a case at the Mohan Nagar police station and further raids across the Durg district targeting the app’s creators and promoters.
The ripple effect of these actions resulted in numerous arrests of individuals associated with the Mahadev app‘s operation in various districts. Shockingly, transactions worth ₹5,000 crores were traced across India in 2022 through the app. This massive financial activity led to the filing of over 72 cases and the arrest of 449 individuals nationwide.
The authorities’ crackdown on the Mahadev app’s illicit operations culminated in the confiscation of 196 laptops, 885 mobiles, various electronic devices, and a substantial amount of ₹40 lakh in cash. Moreover, approximately 1000 bank accounts linked to the app were frozen, effectively halting its operations and serving as a substantial blow to the sprawling network of this illicit gambling enterprise.