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Mahadev

Mahadev (Sanskrit: महादेव, IAST: Mahādeva), meaning "Great God," is an epithet predominantly applied to , a central deity in revered as the cosmic destroyer and transformer within the alongside the creator and the preserver. In , one of 's major traditions, as Mahadev embodies the supreme reality, , characterized by ascetic renunciation, meditative stillness, and paradoxical dynamism as the eternal and cosmic dancer . Shiva's worship traces to ancient Indic traditions, with proto-forms identifiable in Vedic and potential pre-Aryan origins, evidenced by Indus Valley artifacts depicting a horned figure in yogic posture possibly linked to , an early precursor to as lord of animals. Hindu scriptures, particularly the like the , portray Mahadev as consuming the poison during the Samudra to save creation, earning the epithet Neelkantha (Blue-Throated), and annihilating demons such as and to restore cosmic order. These narratives underscore his role in dissolution for renewal, distinct from mere destruction, reflecting first-principles of cyclical causality in where yields regeneration. Devotees honor Mahadev through practices like rituals, worship symbolizing formless transcendence, and festivals such as , emphasizing detachment from ego and union with the divine. While Shaivite texts assert Shiva's supremacy over other deities—evident in legends where and acknowledge his preeminence—inter-sectarian tensions with highlight interpretive variances rather than empirical conflicts, with archaeological and textual evidence supporting Shiva's prominence across South Asian history from at least the period onward. No verified historical controversies undermine the figure's cultural endurance, though modern appropriations, such as in illicit betting operations falsely invoking the name, exploit rather than reflect theological essence.

Origins and Establishment

Founding and Key Figures

The Mahadev betting app, an online platform facilitating illegal gambling primarily on cricket and other sports, was established by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, both natives of Bhilai in Chhattisgarh. Chandrakar, who previously operated a juice shop in Bhilai, and Uppal, who ran a paan or tyre shop, partnered to launch the app after relocating operations to Dubai to evade Indian regulatory scrutiny. Their collaboration reportedly began through local connections in Bhilai, evolving into a centralized betting network managed from the UAE. Chandrakar emerged as the primary mastermind, overseeing the app's expansion and financial flows, while Uppal served as a key co-promoter handling operational aspects. The duo acquired Vanuatu citizenship to facilitate offshore activities and avoid extradition risks. Investigations by India's Enforcement Directorate (ED) have identified them as the core figures behind the syndicate, which generated an estimated ₹5,000 crore in illicit proceeds through a panel-based betting system. Supporting roles were played by local agents in , such as Raja Gupta (alias Raj), who acted as a Bhilai-based liaison for user recruitment and collections, though the founding control remained with Chandrakar and Uppal. ED probes revealed the app's structure resembled a of 6-7 individuals, but Chandrakar and Uppal directed its inception and -based headquarters. As of October 2024, Chandrakar faced arrest in on charges, with proceedings underway, while Uppal had been detained earlier.

Initial Operations in Chhattisgarh

The Mahadev betting syndicate's roots trace to Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, where primary promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal initiated operations as local bookies facilitating illegal wagers on cricket matches, card games, and other events around 2017. Chandrakar, previously a juice vendor and retail worker in the area, partnered with Uppal, utilizing informal networks of punters and agents within Chhattisgarh to collect bets and distribute winnings through cash transactions. These offline activities generated initial revenues estimated in the range of local gambling scales, avoiding digital trails by relying on word-of-mouth recruitment and physical collections at venues like paan shops and small establishments. Early expansion involved panels—mid-level operators—who managed sub-agents in and adjacent regions like and , with commissions structured at 60-70% for promoters and the balance for local handlers. By late 2017 to early 2018, Chandrakar and Uppal shifted core control to to evade Indian regulatory scrutiny, but retained as a primary and hub, dispatching select associates abroad for training in app-based betting interfaces. This transition marked the pivot from localized, cash-heavy operations to a hybrid model, where -based panels continued handling user and fund pooling for the nascent Mahadev Online Book platform. investigations later uncovered that these initial networks laundered proceeds through benami accounts and channels originating in . Chhattisgarh's role persisted in and promotions, with large outflows for endorsements and Diwali-style festivals to boost user acquisition, amassing an estimated user base of thousands in the state before national scaling. Raids by the in 2023 revealed documents linking early Chhattisgarh operations to bribes paid to officials for protection, underscoring the syndicate's reliance on regional political and administrative influence from inception.

Platform Mechanics and Activities

Betting Features and Games Offered

The Mahadev platform primarily facilitated illegal online betting on sports events, with a heavy emphasis on cricket matches, including live in-play wagering where users could place bets during ongoing games such as the Indian Premier League (IPL). Bets extended to other sports like football, tennis, badminton, and kabaddi, offering options such as pre-match, live, outright winner, and proposition bets on outcomes like match scores or player performances. In addition to sports, the app provided access to virtual casino-style games, including chance-based and skill-based card games such as , Poker, and Dragon Tiger, alongside simulated cricket matches for non-live betting. These games operated through a networked system of user panels and agent IDs, enabling hierarchical betting where promoters earned commissions on user wagers, often with minimum deposits as low as ₹500. The platform's interface supported real-time odds updates and instant fund transfers via digital wallets, though these features were central to its evasion of regulatory oversight in . Key betting mechanics included dynamic odds adjustment during live events and multi-level agent recruitment, where "panel owners" managed sub-agents to expand the user base, reportedly handling daily transactions exceeding ₹200 crore at peak times. Despite claims of secure and fast withdrawals in promotional materials, Enforcement Directorate investigations revealed these as mechanisms for layering illicit funds rather than reliable user features.

Revenue Generation and User Acquisition

The Mahadev platform derived its revenue principally from commissions on illegal bets placed by users on games such as matches, card games, and lotteries, facilitated through a hierarchical franchise model of and branches outsourced to associates. Under this structure, panel operators collected wagers and handled transactions via encrypted channels like groups and dedicated call centers, retaining 30% of profits while remitting 70% to the core promoters based in . (ED) probes revealed that each panel generated daily earnings in lakhs of rupees for operators, scaling to an estimated Rs 200 in aggregate illegal income per day across the network. Promoters, including Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, accrued approximately Rs 450 monthly from these commissions, contributing to total proceeds of crime exceeding Rs 6,000 as per ED charge sheets. User acquisition relied on the same multi-level franchise system, where promoters delegated recruitment to panel heads—often local associates—who incentivized sub-agents and bettors through commission-based incentives tied to bet volumes. These panels expanded the user base by promoting the app via targeted outreach in regions like Chhattisgarh, using website-listed contact numbers accessible only through Telegram or similar apps to solicit initial deposits and gameplay. The model mirrored multi-level marketing, with agents building networks of players by promising high returns on bets, resulting in rapid scaling to millions of users despite legal prohibitions on online gambling under Indian laws like the Public Gambling Act, 1867. ED investigations highlighted how this decentralized recruitment evaded direct oversight, though it exposed vulnerabilities during raids uncovering agent hierarchies.

Money Laundering Techniques

The Mahadev betting syndicate laundered proceeds from illegal gambling activities through an intricate network involving operators, benami bank accounts, and entities to obscure the origin of funds estimated at over ₹5,000 . mechanisms facilitated undocumented cross-border transfers from Dubai-based operations to , bypassing formal banking channels and enabling rapid movement of cash without generating traceable records. These informal value transfer systems were used to settle betting payouts and route commissions to panel operators and promoters, with intermediaries like Anil Damani reportedly handling rerouted funds for operational expenses, including bribes to officials. Domestically, the syndicate layered illicit funds via thousands of benami and mule bank accounts opened in the names of proxies across multiple cities, creating a complex web to fragment and disguise transactions. These accounts, often controlled by low-level operatives or unrelated individuals, received deposits from betting collections—typically in cash or digital wallets—and funneled them through sequential transfers to evade detection under anti-money laundering laws. Enforcement Directorate investigations revealed that such layering involved enlisting new users via sub-agents who generated IDs on the app, with commissions laundered similarly to integrate black money into the formal economy. Laundered funds were ultimately parked in legitimate investments, including securities, bonds, and DEMAT accounts worth over ₹573 crore seized by the in April 2025, disguising illegal proceeds as stock market gains or foreign portfolio inflows. This integration phase exploited regulatory gaps, with proceeds from routed back as seemingly clean capital into Indian firms, including allegations of channeling into entities like those probed in connection with and Gensol Engineering. The syndicate's use of "no-name" accounts for India-Dubai hawala settlements further compounded traceability issues, allowing sustained operations until raids uncovered documents and trails linking these methods to promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal.

Growth and International Expansion

Scale of Operations

The Mahadev betting syndicate scaled to a nationwide operation through a hierarchical system, where sub-agents or "panels" were incentivized with commissions of 0.5-1% on user deposits and bets placed, enabling rapid user enrollment without direct oversight from promoters. This structure proliferated across multiple Indian states, including , , , and , supported by call centers and local networks for customer acquisition and transaction facilitation. By leveraging over 450 accounts for funds, the network handled high-volume transactions, evading initial detection through benami entities and mule accounts. Financially, the platform achieved daily betting volumes of approximately 200 , with 70-80% redistributed as winnings and the remainder retained as profit after commissions to panels and operators. investigations project total proceeds of crime at around 6,000 , amassed over several years from illegal activities including , poker, and cricket match betting. Funds were siphoned offshore via channels to Dubai-based entities controlled by promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who invested portions back into Indian assets like and for laundering. The operation's international footprint extended beyond , with core management from the and collaborations with foreign operators to handle cross-border flows, underscoring its evolution from a regional Chhattisgarh-based setup to a globalized syndicate by 2023. This expansion correlated with increased scrutiny, as evidenced by cumulative asset attachments exceeding 2,200 by late 2024.

Links to Dubai and Offshore Entities

The promoters of the Mahadev betting platform, Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, both originating from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, established their primary base of operations in Dubai, from where they directed the app's illegal activities including betting facilitation and funds management. This relocation enabled them to oversee a network of panel operators and franchisees in India while avoiding direct jurisdiction, with proceeds allegedly funneled through hawala channels coordinated from Dubai. In December 2023, Ravi Uppal was detained in Dubai following an Interpol red notice issued at the request of Indian authorities probing money laundering linked to the app. Similarly, Saurabh Chandrakar, identified as the primary mastermind, was arrested in Dubai on October 11, 2024, on charges of money laundering and fraud, with extradition proceedings initiated thereafter. Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigations revealed extensive hawala linkages to Dubai-based operators, who facilitated the transfer of illicit betting proceeds out of . On March 1, 2024, the ED froze security holdings exceeding ₹580 belonging to a Dubai-based hawala operator connected to the Mahadev syndicate, alongside seizures of cash and incriminating documents during raids in multiple Indian cities. These networks were used to layer funds generated from the app's operations, estimated at thousands of s, before reinjection into Indian markets via benami entities. To further obscure their trails and evade extradition, Chandrakar and Uppal acquired citizenship in Vanuatu, an island nation recognized as a tax haven with lax regulatory oversight, using these passports to travel and conduct transactions. ED charge sheets indicate they resided in UAE palatial properties funded by proceeds of crime and applied for Australian visas under these identities. Funds were also routed through offshore jurisdictions including Mauritius, where foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) registered in Dubai and Mauritius channeled approximately ₹3,000 crore into Indian stock markets via shell firms, enabling stock manipulation and asset inflation. Additional investments included offshore real estate, cryptocurrencies, and diamond trade, diversifying the laundered assets beyond immediate Indian scrutiny.

Investigations by Enforcement Agencies

Enforcement Directorate Probes

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a money laundering probe into the Mahadev Online Book Betting App syndicate in October 2023 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeting proceeds from alleged illegal online betting operations estimated at over Rs 6,000 crore annually. The investigation focused on an umbrella network facilitating bets on cricket matches, card games, and other events through a franchised panel system, with profits split 70-30 between operators and associates, while funds were laundered via hawala networks, shell entities, and cryptocurrency channels. By May 2025, the had executed more than 170 search operations across cities including , , and , uncovering a complex web of benami accounts used to route illicit funds into , investments, and . These raids yielded seizures of cash totaling Rs 3.29 , freezing of balances exceeding Rs 20 , and of incriminating documents linking promoters to Dubai-based entities. Overall, assets worth Rs 3,002.47 —including securities, bonds, and immovable —have been attached or seized to prevent dissipation of proceeds. The probe has resulted in 13 arrests, including key figures like Girish Talreja and Suraj Chokhani in March 2024, charged with layering funds through multiple bank accounts and transfers. Five prosecution complaints (chargesheets) have been filed before special PMLA courts, implicating 74 individuals in the syndicate's operations. In a significant development, primary promoter Saurabh Chandrakar was detained in Dubai on October 11, 2024, following an red notice, with proceedings initiated to bring him to for questioning. Further inquiries in 2025 revealed manipulations in stock markets, prompting the ED to refer evidence of benami investments inflating shares of listed companies to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). Additional attachments in December 2024 provisionalized Rs 388 crore in assets tied to the app's betting platform, including properties and financial instruments held through proxies. The ED's findings underscore the syndicate's use of over 150 shell firms to obfuscate trails, with ongoing efforts to trace international flows amid cooperation challenges from foreign jurisdictions.

Central Bureau of Investigation Involvement

The (CBI) assumed control of the Mahadev betting app investigation following a decision by the government on August 22, 2024, to transfer the case from state agencies due to its scale and interstate implications. This handover included re-registering and consolidating 77 First Information Reports (FIRs) originally filed by , encompassing allegations of illegal online betting, , and under the Chhattisgarh Gannd Toli (Prohibition) Act. The CBI formally took over from the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on January 15, 2025, building on the EOW's initial FIR filed on March 4, 2024, which named 19 individuals and attached assets valued at approximately ₹2,296 crores linked to the syndicate. On March 26, 2025, the CBI executed coordinated searches at 60 locations spanning Chhattisgarh (including Raipur and Bhilai), Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi, targeting premises associated with promoters Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, as well as alleged beneficiaries and facilitators. These operations, led by CBI Assistant Superintendent of Police Ajit Singh and supported by deputy superintendents, yielded digital devices, documentary evidence, and records detailing the app's illegal betting transactions estimated at ₹5,500–6,000 crores, including patterns of hawala transfers and dummy entities used for laundering. Among the sites raided were residences of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, whom the probe implicated as a potential beneficiary through protection extended to the syndicate during his tenure. Subsequently, on April 1, 2025, the CBI publicly registered its FIR, formally naming Baghel alongside promoters Subham Soni, Asim Das (a driver linked to cash deliveries), Uppal, and Chandrakar as accused under Indian Penal Code sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), and 468 (forgery for cheating), as well as provisions of the Chhattisgarh Gannd Toli Act. The FIR alleges that the Mahadev Book platform, operating from Dubai-based servers, received political patronage in Chhattisgarh, enabling unchecked expansion and evasion of state gambling laws, with evidence from seized materials pointing to systematic extortion and revenue-sharing arrangements. As of April 2025, the CBI continues to probe bureaucratic and IPS officer complicity, emphasizing the syndicate's use of encrypted apps and offshore links to obscure transactions exceeding ₹15,000 crores in total illicit flows.

Key Raids, Seizures, and Arrests

In October 2023, the (ED) initiated probes into the Mahadev online betting platform, leading to subsequent raids uncovering benami accounts used for laundering proceeds from illegal . By February 28, 2024, ED conducted searches at 16 locations across , , , and , resulting in the freezing of demat accounts holding shares valued at Rs 100 crore linked to the app's promoters. On February 29, 2024, these actions extended to freezing additional securities tied to operators facilitating funds from the platform. In May 2024, Chhattisgarh's Economic Offences Wing and Anti-Corruption Bureau raided 29 locations in five districts, arresting key panel operators and promoters involved in the app's franchise model, with evidence of commissions funneled through layered transactions. By 2024, attached assets worth Rs 388 crore across , , and , including immovable properties and bank balances traced to the syndicate's money trails. A pivotal arrest occurred on October 11, 2024, when Saurabh Chandrakar, a primary promoter of the Mahadev app, was detained in Dubai following an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued at India's request, amid allegations of orchestrating the platform's Rs 5,000 crore-plus illegal operations from abroad. In March 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) executed raids at 60 locations spanning Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi, targeting premises linked to the app's nexus with politicians, bureaucrats, and police, uncovering documents evidencing protection rackets. On April 16, 2025, ED searched premises of Nishant Pitti, founder of EaseMyTrip, in connection with promotional ties to the app. Concurrently, state police arrested 14 individuals across five states on April 17-18, 2025, seizing 67 mobile phones, 8 laptops, and 94 ATM cards used for IPL match betting via the platform. ED's April 21-22, 2025, operations yielded Rs 3.29 crore in cash seizures and freezes on Rs 573 crore in securities, bonds, and demat accounts held by Dubai-based hawala entities. In September 2025, CBI facilitated the deportation and arrest from Dubai of Harshit Jain, a key accused in a related Gujarat betting racket tied to Chandrakar, involving Rs 2,300 crore in illicit funds.

Political Connections and Controversies

Alleged Ties to Chhattisgarh Politicians

The (ED) alleged in November 2023 that promoters of the Mahadev betting app, Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, paid approximately ₹508 to then-Chhattisgarh in exchange for providing administrative protection to their illegal operations, which generated proceeds of crime exceeding ₹5,000 . These claims were based on , including transactions and communications intercepted during the , purportedly showing Baghel's involvement as a . Baghel denied the accusations, asserting they were fabricated by the BJP-led to influence the impending Chhattisgarh assembly elections. In the same month, ED raids uncovered nearly ₹5 crore in cash transported from the UAE by app associates, intended to fund election-related activities for a political party in Chhattisgarh, with the transfers timed five days before the first phase of polling on November 7, 2023. The agency linked these funds to the syndicate's efforts to secure political patronage, including influence over local law enforcement to evade crackdowns on betting panels operating under the guise of legitimate businesses. Following the Congress party's electoral defeat, the incoming BJP government in Chhattisgarh registered a first information report (FIR) against Baghel and app promoters in March 2024 via the state Economic Offences Wing, citing ED chargesheets that detailed the protection racket. The () assumed control of the probe in August 2024 after the government recommended a central agency takeover, re-registering the and explicitly naming Baghel as an accused based on evidence of his role in facilitating the syndicate's operations. On March 26, 2025, teams conducted searches lasting over 14 hours at Baghel's official and private residences in and , recovering documents allegedly tied to the scam, though no arrests followed immediately. By April 2025, the formalized Baghel's implication alongside other politicians and bureaucrats, with investigations probing a network of 250+ betting panels across the state shielded by local influence. ED actions extended to asset attachments totaling ₹388 crore in December 2024, targeting properties and accounts linked to politicians, bureaucrats, and app associates involved in laundering betting proceeds through shell entities. These measures followed chargesheets filed against Chandrakar, Uppal, and accomplices, which outlined how political ties enabled the app's unchecked growth from 2020 onward, including exemptions from enforcement. Baghel maintained that his administration had initiated actions against the app prior to the allegations, framing subsequent probes as retaliatory under the BJP regime. As of October 2025, no convictions have resulted from these ties, with the case highlighting tensions between and central agencies amid disputes over enforcement credibility.

Protection Racket Claims

Allegations of a surrounding the Mahadev betting app have centered on claims that its promoters, primarily Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, paid substantial bribes to politicians, bureaucrats, and officials to shield operations from enforcement actions and enable unchecked expansion. The (ED) has asserted that these payments ensured the app's "support and connivance" from local authorities, with illegal proceeds funneled through networks to facilitate such arrangements. Key evidence cited includes statements from arrested associates, such as Asim Das, who reportedly admitted arranging funds for delivery to a identified as "Baghel" ahead of elections, and Chandrabhushan Verma, an panel operator, who claimed Chandrakar and Uppal disbursed "protection money" to bureaucrats and for operational . The most prominent claim involves former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, with the ED alleging that Mahadev promoters transferred approximately Rs 508 crore to him between 2021 and 2023, purportedly as election-related kickbacks disguised as protection payments, based on digital records and witness testimonies. Baghel dismissed these accusations as politically motivated fabrications, labeling the Rs 508 crore figure "a joke" and asserting no evidence links him to the syndicate, while noting that raids on his residences in March 2025 yielded no incriminating material. Additional details from ED probes highlight smaller-scale bribes, such as monthly payments to Assistant Sub-Inspector Anurag Verma, who allegedly provided access to high-level officials in exchange for facilitating the racket's evasion of police scrutiny. Investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which assumed control of related probes in early 2025, have corroborated ED findings on protection mechanisms, including claims of "substantial amounts" paid to public servants to prevent crackdowns, though no convictions on these specific racket allegations have been secured as of October 2025. These claims, drawn from chargesheets and intercepted communications, underscore a pattern where betting revenues—estimated at over Rs 6,000 crore—allegedly sustained a network of influence peddling, but critics of the probes, including Baghel, argue that agency statements lack independent verification and serve electoral narratives amid Chhattisgarh's political shifts.

Media and Public Scrutiny Biases

Media coverage of the Mahadev betting app operations has been marked by partisan framing, with outlets aligned to the ruling (BJP) emphasizing lapses under the prior government in , particularly alleged protection extended by former Bhupesh Baghel. (ED) investigations revealed claims of ₹508 crore in protection money paid to Baghel and bureaucrats, prompting CBI FIRs naming him as an accused in April 2025 based on witness statements and financial trails. Reports in BJP-leaning publications detailed how the app flourished unchecked during Baghel's 2018-2023 tenure, including failure to ban it despite state-level awareness. In contrast, Congress-affiliated narratives and sympathetic media have depicted post-2023 probes as vendettas against political rivals, alleging that spares BJP-linked figures. Baghel publicly stated in March 2025 that individuals who previously targeted the app's promoters were now under raid, implying BJP orchestration to shield beneficiaries while punishing critics. Such claims highlight how opposition voices frame and actions—intensified after Chhattisgarh's government transferred the case to in August 2024—as biased tools of the central BJP apparatus, despite empirical evidence of illicit flows totaling over ₹6,000 . Public scrutiny, amplified via social platforms, has skewed toward sensational elements like celebrity promotions—evident in summons to actors such as for endorsing the app at events—and the promoters' extravagant wedding estimated at ₹200 in February 2023, which drew viral condemnation but obscured systemic graft. This emphasis aligns with media incentives for high-engagement stories, potentially diluting focus on verifiable political payoffs, such as ₹5 allegedly funneled from UAE promoters to fund a party in 2023. Corporate angles have also faced selective reporting, as seen in November 2023 when Group executives Mohit and Gaurav Burman claimed media leaks of their names in a Mahadev-linked were manipulated to sabotage unrelated acquisitions, despite no charges against them. Broader institutional biases in media, often tied to or leanings, contribute to uneven , where empirical probe outcomes are filtered through ruling versus opposition lenses rather than uniform accountability.

Legal Proceedings and Outcomes

Charges and Money Laundering Estimates

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered cases under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, against the promoters of the Mahadev Online Book Betting App, including Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, for generating proceeds of crime through illegal online betting and subsequently laundering those funds via hawala networks, shell companies, and benami properties. The predicate offenses, as per the underlying FIRs, include violations of the Public Gambling Act, 1867, and Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections such as 420 (cheating), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 467, 468, and 471 (forgery-related offenses), stemming from the app's operations that facilitated unauthorized betting on games like poker, cards, and cricket matches without legal licenses. Arrests under PMLA provisions have targeted associates like Nitish Diwan and Govind Kedia, accused of assisting in layering the illicit funds through investments in equities, real estate, and Dubai-based entities. ED investigations estimate the total proceeds of crime from Mahadev activities at over ₹5,000 , derived from daily user collections via a franchisee model where "panels" or agents remitted 70-80% of betting earnings to promoters through unaccounted channels. Separate probes have pegged the scam's scale at up to ₹6,000 , incorporating manipulated stock trades and cash extractions funneled offshore. To date, the ED has attached assets worth approximately ₹1,400 , including ₹388 in fresh properties and balances as of December 2024, ₹573 in securities and bonds, and cash seizures exceeding ₹3 during April 2025 raids, reflecting the layered laundering mechanisms employed. These figures underscore the syndicate's use of over 250 entities for obfuscating fund trails, with efforts ongoing for Chandrakar following his October 2024 arrest in on Interpol-backed warrants.

Recent Developments in 2025

In January 2025, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered a fresh corruption and cheating case linked to the Mahadev online betting app scandal, clubbing multiple graft allegations into a single probe to investigate systemic protection extended to the app's promoters by state officials. On March 26, 2025, the CBI conducted searches at over 60 locations across several states, including properties associated with former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as part of its investigation into the app's illegal operations and alleged political patronage. Baghel, a Congress leader, responded by accusing the BJP-led state government of shielding the app's promoters while targeting those who had previously acted against it during his tenure. By early April 2025, the CBI filed a First Information Report (FIR) naming Baghel as an alleged beneficiary of the scam, drawing from Enforcement Directorate (ED) findings that implicated him in receiving illicit proceeds from the app's activities; Baghel denied the charges, framing them as politically motivated. On April 17, Chhattisgarh police arrested 14 individuals for operating betting panels under the Mahadev app's network, such as L95 Lotus and Lotus 651, highlighting ongoing local enforcement efforts. In mid-April, the ED executed raids across seven cities, uncovering a complex web of benami accounts used to launder proceeds from the app—estimated to exceed Rs 6,000 crore overall—into foreign transfers and Indian stock market investments; the agency seized securities, bonds, and demat accounts valued at Rs 573 crore. Concurrently, the ED placed Gensol Engineering under scrutiny for suspected ties to the scandal's financial flows. May 2025 saw the probing CEO for potential awareness of links between the app and the illegal Sky Exchange platform, prompting searches at the company's premises; denied any direct or indirect involvement. By July 2025, the expanded its inquiry into companies owned by Vikas Garg, conducting further searches, and issued summons and notices to and regarding their platforms' role in facilitating the app's operations. These actions underscore the widening scope of federal probes into the app's ecosystem, with over 170 ED raids conducted nationwide by mid-year.

Societal and Economic Impact

Effects on Gambling Regulation in

The Mahadev betting app , involving an estimated daily turnover of over ₹5,000 and money laundering proceeds exceeding ₹6,000 , underscored profound regulatory deficiencies in 's fragmented framework, primarily governed by the archaic Public Gambling Act of 1867, which failed to address online platforms and permitted exploitative loopholes for "skill-based" betting. This exposure prompted immediate enforcement actions, including the Ministry of Electronics and 's order on November 5, 2023, to block Mahadev and 21 other illegal betting applications under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, targeting cross-border operations evading state-level oversight. In response to the scandal's revelations of systemic vulnerabilities—such as unmonitored digital transactions facilitating and political protection rackets—the accelerated legislative reforms, culminating in the Promotion and Regulation of Bill, 2025, passed by on August 22, 2025. This legislation imposes a nationwide on real-money , including previously tolerated "" formats like fantasy sports and poker, with criminal penalties of up to three years and fines reaching ₹10 million for operators, explicitly closing legal ambiguities that Mahadev exploited through servers and domestic proxies. The bill addresses inconsistencies across states, where some jurisdictions like and had issued limited licenses for games, but nationwide enforcement gaps allowed apps like Mahadev to proliferate, generating illicit revenues funneled into assets worth hundreds of crores seized by the . Further, the catalyzed India's advocacy for international regulatory alignment, including a push in September 2024 for (FATF) oversight of online gaming to integrate anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing protocols, recognizing platforms' role in channeling untraceable funds as evidenced by Mahadev's operations. By August 2025, additional bans targeted five more apps for promotion, signaling a zero-tolerance shift that dismantled operations of major platforms and prompted industry-wide halts in real-money features, though critics argue the outright may drive activity underground without addressing underlying enforcement challenges. These measures, while strengthening central control, highlight ongoing tensions between curbing addiction and fraud—core issues amplified by Mahadev—and potential economic repercussions for legitimate gaming sectors previously valued at billions.

Broader Implications for Corruption Networks

The Mahadev betting app scandal exemplifies how illegal operations in integrate with extensive networks, facilitating the laundering of illicit proceeds through channels, benami accounts, and investments in legitimate sectors such as stock markets and real estate. Investigations by the (ED) have uncovered a structure where promoters paid substantial "protection money" to politicians and bureaucrats, particularly in , enabling unchecked operations despite legal prohibitions under the Public Gambling Act, 1867. This nexus not only shielded the app's activities—estimated to generate over ₹5,000 annually—but also diverted funds into manipulating stock prices via over 200 shell companies, highlighting the syndicate's infiltration of financial systems. Broader ramifications extend to organized crime ecosystems, where Mahadev's model—relying on Dubai-based operations and domestic enablers—mirrors patterns in other cyber-enabled frauds, including IPL betting rackets and scams, contributing to an estimated ₹28,000 in laundered proceeds nationwide as of 2025. The () has clubbed multiple graft cases, naming figures like former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister in FIRs under the Prevention of Act, underscoring how such networks erode state machinery by co-opting and administrative officials. These revelations have prompted inter-agency coordination, including asset seizures exceeding ₹8,500 , but expose systemic gaps in monitoring digital platforms and cross-border flows, potentially incentivizing similar syndicates in unregulated sectors. The case signals a cautionary pattern for India's corruption landscape, where betting apps serve as conduits for political funding and peddling, often evading due to jurisdictional challenges and delayed probes. ED findings indicate the syndicate's bribes to senior functionaries created a "parallel economy" of illicit finance, with implications for in states with weak oversight. While ongoing 2025 raids by and ED have led to arrests and asset attachments worth hundreds of crores, the persistence of such networks underscores the need for forensic auditing of political donations and stricter crackdowns, as unchecked proliferation could amplify organized crime's leverage over governance.

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