The Mahadev betting app case is currently grabbing the headlines and several celebs have come under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Ranbir Kapoor was the first to be summoned. Now, actors like Shraddha Kapoor, Hina Khan, Huma Qureshi and Kapil Sharma are also summoned by the ED.
As per reports, Shraddha is expected to appear before the ED today (October 6) and Ranbir Kapoor has sought two weeks’ time to appear before the probe agency. Hina Khan, Huma Qureshi and Kapil Sharma are called for questioning on different dates.
For the unversed, the central probe agency has accused Ranbir of receiving money from the promoters of the betting app for promoting their product in the virtual (online) space.
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As per ED's investigation, the Mahadev Online Book App is run from a central head office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The officials of the agency said that it operates by franchising "Panel/Branches" to their known associates on a 70-30 profit ratio.
According to ED lawyer Saurabh Pandey, "Mahadev app is a betting portal and it is a case of money laundering. Raipur ED office started the probe and four people were arrested. As the probe proceeded further, the names of many people came to light, and we issued summons to a few people. Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor's name has also come up so we issued a summon under section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), he didn't appear today but through email, he requested one week time. We will see what needs to be done further".
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As per the agency, large-scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to offshore accounts. Large expenditures in cash in India are done by the portal for advertising of betting websites to attract new users and franchise seekers. The online betting app is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and money laundering through a layered web of benami bank accounts. The agency also said that the promoters of the app are Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who are from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and they run their operations from Dubai. They operate four such apps and made around ₹ 200 crore per day.
