The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has furthered its investigation into alleged money laundering activities associated with the Mahadev online betting app case by apprehending two additional individuals closely linked to the promoters. This development adds to the existing tally of arrests, which now stands at a total of 11 individuals detained in connection with the case.
Girish Talreja and Suraj Chokhani were arrested on March 2 and March 3 respectively under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following their apprehension, the accused were presented before the PMLA special court in Raipur, where they were granted remand to Enforcement Directorate custody for seven days, extending until March 11.
These arrested individuals are reported to have close ties with the promoters, namely Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, associated with the controversial online gambling application.
According to the investigative agency, the promoters and other individuals allegedly engaged in money laundering and hawala transactions utilizing the Mahadev betting platform, operated from a central headquarters in the UAE. The projected proceeds of crime in this instance are estimated to amount to approximately Rs 6,000 crore.
Suraj Chokhani, as per the probe, is alleged to have invested in a high-end casino in Nepal using funds purportedly derived from illicit activities linked to the Mahadev Online Book app. He is also accused of channeling investments into ventures in Bangladesh and a luxury property development project from unlawfully acquired funds.
Meanwhile, Girish Talreja is purportedly involved in the operations of "lotus365," a sister concern of Mahadev Online Book. Talreja is accused of actively participating in the laundering of proceeds generated through illicit operations.
During its investigative proceedings, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids on multiple locations, resulting in the recovery of Rs 1 crore in cash. Additionally, movable properties amounting to Rs 1764.5 crore have been frozen under the PMLA concerning the money laundering case.
Before these recent arrests, nine individuals had been apprehended in connection with the case. In January, the Enforcement Directorate arrested two more individuals, Nitin Tibrewal and Amit Agrawal, as part of its ongoing money laundering probe into the Mahadev online betting and gaming app case.
The Mahadev app case, according to the Enforcement Directorate, involves a high-profile scandal centered around an online betting platform facilitating illegal gambling activities across various games. Operated by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the app reportedly raked in staggering daily revenues of Rs 200 crore by franchising "panel and branches" to associates, enrolling new users, creating IDs, and laundering money through a complex network of Benami bank accounts.
