The Mumbai Police have reportedly lodged a first information report (FIR) against the Mahadev Khiladi app, which is identified as a subsidiary of the Mahadev app, on charges of illegal betting.
Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, named by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as kingpins in the betting racket, are now alleged to be associated with a match-fixing syndicate through the “subsidiary application” with the aim of earning profits through unofficial channels.
The police filed the FIR on November 10 in connection with this case following directives of a local court. The network, which operates with Bitcoins, extends its operations to cities like London, Kolkata, and Mumbai. It also operations in parts of Chhattisgarh.
Chandrakar and Uppal, originally from Bhilai, have reportedly relocated to Dubai, where they are alleged to be managing the Mahadev Book betting network, the Times of India reported, citing the police statements. The Chhattisgarh Police have also issued lookout notices for their apprehension. Both Chandrakar and Uppal, however, have refuted the allegations, saying that they were cooperating with the ED and denied any link with the purported cricket match-fixing racket.
Moneycontrol could not verify the reports independently.
The Mumbai police last week filed an FIR against 32 individuals, including the alleged promoters of the Mahadev app, for allegedly committing a fraud of nearly Rs 15,000 crore.
According to the complaint, the syndicate is accused of "manipulating" cricket matches. Among the 32 individuals named in the complaint, at least five are known associates of Chandrakar, operating from different parts of the country and the Middle East with the purpose of "fixing" matches. The complaint alleges that they conducted their operations through the Khiladi app and other portals, generating substantial amounts daily, which are then distributed through hawala or Bitcoin wallets.
Also Read: Mahadev app founders went from juice-tyre shop to making Rs 200 crore per day
On November 5, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued orders blocking 22 “illegal betting apps and websites”, including Mahadev app.
The ED claimed last week that a forensic analysis and a statement from a ‘cash courier' have revealed “startling allegations”. According to these claims, promoters of the Mahadev betting app have allegedly disbursed around Rs 508 crore to the Chhattisgarh chief minister to date.
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