MeitY blocks 22 'illegal' betting apps and websites, including Mahadev Book app

The ED had earlier said its investigation has revealed Mahadev Book is run from a central head office in the UAE

Following a request from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on November 5 issued blocking orders against 22 allegedly illegal betting apps and websites including Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro apps.

The ED has been investigating the promoters of the Mahadev online betting app under a money-laundering case and has conducted raids on its premises in Chhattisgarh.  On October 23, the investigating agency filed its first chargesheet in relation to the case.

Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, "Chhattisgarh Government had all the power to recommend shutting down of website/app under Sec 69A IT Act. However, they did not do so and no such request was made by the State Government while they have been investigating it for the last 1.5 years."

"In fact, the first and only request has been received from ED and it has been acted upon. Nothing prevented the Chhattisgarh Government from making similar requests," he added.

The owners of Mahadev Book are currently in custody, having been arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly laundering money.

The ED has named 14 persons in the prosecution complaint, including alleged main promoters of the Mahadev Book app Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal besides Vikas Chhapariya, Chandrabhushan Verma, Satish Chandrakar, Anil Dammani, Sunil Dammani, Vishal Ahuja, Dheeraj Ahuja, Srijan Associates through Punaram Verma, Shiv Kumar Verma, Punaram Verma Shiv Kumar Verma, Yashoda Verma and Pawan Nathani,