Mahadev gambling app scam: owner Ravi Uppal arrested in Dubai and deported to India

Ravi Uppal, an alleged owner of the Mahadev Betting App, faced accusations and was detained in Dubai by local authorities based on a red corner notice issued by the Interpol enforcement directorate. Following his detention, Uppal was deported to India, where he, along with another promoter of an internet betting platform named Sourabh Chandra Kar, became subjects of a money laundering investigation initiated by the central probe agency.

Cases and investigation against Ravi Uppal

The investigation, which began in October, was brought before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. Mumbai police also registered cases against Uppal. The central probe agency revealed that Uppal and others allegedly engaged in money laundering and hawala transactions using the Mahadev betting platform, operating from a crucial head office in the UAE. The projected proceeds of crime in this case were estimated at Rs 6,000 crore.

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The central probe agency found that the betting app operated through franchising “panel/branches,” employing a 70-30 income ratio to incentivize individuals. The platform was used to register new users, create IDs, and launder money through a complex network of Benami bank accounts, reportedly generating an impressive Rs 200 crore daily.

What is the central probe agency investigation?

Large-scale hawala operations were allegedly conducted to move betting proceeds to offshore accounts, and significant cash expenditures were made in India to market betting websites and attract new customers and franchise seekers. The agency filed seven FIRs against Uppal in various locations, including Goa, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam, Ahmedabad, and Chhattisgarh.

What operations are performed during the investigation

Additionally, the organization claimed that a ‘cash courier’ named Asim Das made startling allegations that Uppal and others paid about Rs 508 crore to former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel. This allegation became a subject of investigation by the Enforcement Directorate.

Allegations on Uppal regarding politics

As part of the probe, several Bollywood celebrities, including Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Kapil Sharma, Boman Irani, and Hina Khan, were summoned by the Enforcement Directorate. These celebrities are suspected of receiving significant sums of money for their participation or performances at events organized by Uppal and Chandrakar.

Conclusion

The investigation also uncovered alleged hawala operations in UAE and Pakistan, with Chandrakar and Uppal reportedly collaborating with gangster Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Mushtaqeem Ibrahim Kaskar to develop a similar app in Pakistan called ‘Kheloyar.’ Uppal’s recent detention in Dubai and subsequent deportation to India marked a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the Mahadev betting app scam.