The Mahadev betting app which has recently made it’s way to the headlines, after Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shradha Kapoor in relation to a case pertaining to the App. Where Ranbir Kapoor & Shradha Kapoor are summoned in connection with their appearance in the advertisements of Mahadev App, ED has also summoned several other Bollywood celebrities along with Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan in the present case.
The stars are being questioned for the reasons of promoting the App, which is involved in illegal betting and money laundering activities and also for alleged reason that several stars had performed at Sourabh Chandrakar’s wedding in Dubai (Sourabh Chandrakar happens to be one of the promoters of the betting App), in February, and the stars were paid through hawala transactions for their respective performances.
How the operators of the Mahadev Online betting app amassed a significant fortune?
Illegal Betting Syndicate App:
Mahadev app served as an umbrella syndicate providing online platforms to illegal betting websites. It facilitated the enrolment of new users, creation of user IDs, and money laundering through a network of benami bank accounts.
Promoters: Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, originally from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, operated the betting apps from Dubai.
Profit Margins: The operators managed four to five such apps and allegedly made around ₹200 crore per day, according to the probe agency.
How does it work?
Creation of new websites and closed groups- the operators created new websites and closed groups on chatting apps regularly to attract new customers.
Paid Advertisements on social media: the operators ran paid advertisements on social media platforms, encouraging people to text their numbers to earn profits. Reportedly the operators made large cash expenditures in India for advertising betting websites, aiming to attract new users and franchise seekers
User ID Creation: Mahadev’s customer care executives guided individuals on creating a new User ID, providing two numbers—one for depositing money and making bets and another for contacting customer care and encashing points or money.
Use of Benami Accounts: All accounts used for collecting or paying out money as alleged were benami (fraudulently opened) accounts.
Rigged Games: as alleged bets and games on Mahadev were rigged to ensure the company didn’t lose money. While new users made profits initially, they usually incurred heavy losses in the long run.
Network of Call Centers
International Call Centers: as being reported Mahadev operated hundreds of call centres across Malaysia, Thailand, India, and the UAE, running 24/7 to create subsidiary apps, websites, and interact with customers.
Massive Transactions: The app witnessed transactions worth thousands of crores daily, generating a profit of ₹200 crore per day, according to the probe agency, The apps used to run from a central head office in the UAE, franchising “Branches” to known associates on a 70-30 profit ratio, About 30 call centres were opened in major Indian cities, and these were being handled by Anil Dammani and Sunil Dammani, two very close associates of Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. Both the Dammani brothers have been arrested by the ED.
It is alleged that the large-scale hawala operations were conducted to divert betting proceeds to offshore accounts, the money from hawala transactions is alleged to be sent further to high profile individuals for smooth and unhindered running of the app..
Status:
It is reported that ED has raided Last month, and assets worth ₹417 crore were seized during raids conducted at 39 locations in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bhopal in connection with the Mahadev betting app., what caught attention is the alleged event of Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the promoters of the online betting platform, married in Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE in February where the wedding costed a whooping ₹200-crore which was paid in cash entirely.
The Mahadev app seemingly highlights the sophisticated and extensive methods employed by the operators of the app to evade detection and legal consequences, involving a network of operations spanning across multiple countries and involving various influential individuals, however the latest probe by ED shall unfold the hidden and illegal parameter associated with the said app.
