Mahadev Betting App: Owner Ravi Uppal caught in Dubai on Interpol notice; ED trying to extradite him to India

Ravi Uppal, accused in the case of illegal betting and money laundering, has been detained in Dubai. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating this scam worth crores of rupees, is making efforts to extradite Mahadev App owner Ravi Uppal to India. According to reports, Ravi Uppal Mahadev is one of the two main owners of the online betting app. On the orders of ED, Interpol had issued a red notice against Ravi. On this basis, Dubai Police has detained Ravi.

ED investigation with Chhattisgarh and Mumbai police

Official sources said on Wednesday, that 43-year-old Ravi Uppal was detained last week. Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials are in touch with Dubai authorities to extradite Ravi Uppal to India. Apart from ED, Chhattisgarh Police as well as Mumbai Police are also investigating the case registered against Uppal.

Case registered under PMLA

In this money laundering case related to alleged illegal betting, ED had registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Raipur, Chhattisgarh in October. A money laundering charge sheet was filed against Uppal and another Mahadev App promoter, Saurabh Chandrakar, before a special court.

Ravi Uppal has a Vanuatu passport, Indian citizenship has not surrendered

Later, based on ED's request, Interpol issued a red notice. The ED had told the court in the charge sheet that Uppal had taken the passport of Vanuatu, an island country in the Pacific Ocean. However, he has not given up his Indian citizenship. According to ED, Uppal's income is criminal. Along with this, he is also involved in hiding crores of rupees.

Headquartered in UAE

According to reports, Mahadev is the leading syndicate of online book betting applications. With its help, illegal betting websites are operated. Mahadev App provides an online platform. The promoters of the company are from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. According to Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials investigating the case, the Mahadev online book app was operated from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is its central head office. App owners and people involved in betting used to give franchises of panels/branches to associates at a 70-30 percent profit ratio.

Crores of rupees spent on tempting advertisements

ED alleges that in this alleged scam, a large-scale hawala operation is conducted to send betting income to foreign accounts. Betting websites were also advertised to attract new people towards big earnings and attractive benefits. ED has also made allegations of huge cash expenditure in India for advertising.

A case of about six thousand crore rupees

According to the ED charge sheet filed against Uppal, the estimated criminal proceeds in the Mahadev betting app case are around Rs 6,000 crore. Assistant Police Sub-Inspector 'Chandrabhushan Verma' has also been accused of overseeing the delivery of bribe money through some other people. It is alleged that the money was sent to bureaucrats and politicians of Chhattisgarh. In this case, the name of former Chhattisgarh CM and Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel also came up. However, he has appealed for an impartial investigation into the matter, calling it a misuse of the central agency.

Headlines of CM Bhupesh Baghel and Rs 508 crore before assembly elections

Let us tell you that during the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections 2023, the issue of payment of Rs 508 crore was in the headlines. The role of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is also on the radar of ED. ED claims that forensic analysis and the testimony of a 'cash courier' named Aseem Das will prove important in cracking down on the promoters and beneficiaries of the Mahadev betting app. However, later during his appearance in the special court of Raipur, Aseem Das alleged that he was 'implicated in a conspiracy'. He denied the allegations of delivering cash to politicians.

Also Read: Dhiraj Sahu: IT got important clues from Dhiraj Sahu's hideouts, notes can be linked to hawala operators and shell companies.