Raipur: The Mahadev betting app case just got murkier as the key accused in the betting racket — Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal — are now alleged to be involved in a match-fixing syndicate via a ‘subsidiary app’ named Mahadev Khiladi. Maharashtra Police have registered an FIR in the case on Friday in a Mumbai court. The Mahadev betting app was being run with its constituents dealing in Bitcoins. The app’s operations were held across several cities such as London, Kolkata, and Mumbai, apart from parts of Chhattisgarh.
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According to the complaint, cricket matches were “manipulated” by the notorious betting syndicate. Of the 32 names in the complaint, at least five are Chandrakar’s known associates, who are operating from various parts of the country and the Middle East to “fix” matches. They allegedly operated via the Khiladi App and other portals, generating crores per day, which is distributed through hawala or Bitcoin wallet, says the complaint.
The Maharashtra Economic Offences Wing is likely to take over the ‘Khiladi App’ probe and could reach out to Chhattisgarh Police to investigate alleged match-fixing links in the state, says the TOI report, citing sources.
Chandrakar and Uppal are natives of Bhilai but have moved to Dubai from where they are running the Mahadev Book betting network, say police. The Chhattisgarh Police have issued lookout notices for them. Chandrakar and Uppal have denied the allegations and say they are cooperating with ED. They deny any links with the alleged cricket match-fixing racket.
On November 6, the Mumbai Metropolitan Magistrate’s court directed police to initiate a case following repeated complaints by social worker Prakash Bankar, who alleges the existence of a financial fraud of Rs 15,000 crore via the app since 2019. The FIR was registered under IPC charges under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling And IT Act.
Shubham Soni, who claims to be the owner of Mahadev App and has made direct allegations against Congress leader and Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, is alleged to be one of the administrators of Khiladi App, say sources.
In a video message, Soni alleged that Baghel had encouraged him to set up his gambling business in Dubai. He said that he had approached Baghel regarding the arrest of his associates in Bhilai.
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Reacting to the claims, the incumbent CM of Chhattisgarh, in a tweet said, “It is no mystery why and how this video has come and it is also not difficult to understand that such a statement was issued at the time of elections only to benefit the BJP.”
“Everyone also understands that this is being done by weaponizing ED. In fact, the BJP is now contesting elections with the help of ED and is using ED to defame me,” Baghel further wrote.
Chandrakar and Uppal have now issued a statement from Dubai refuting the allegations made by Soni. They have denied any involvement in the betting racket, and said that the allegations are “baseless, and lack credible evidence”.
Chandrakar and Uppal have named Soni as the ‘central figure’ behind the Mahadev Book betting app and shared details on Soni’s association with ‘Mahadev Book Markets Limited’. They claimed to have been “unfairly made scapegoats” due to their growing presence in the UAE real estate market.
Chandrakar and Uppal have said that they are cooperating with the Enforcement Directorate (ED), providing all the necessary information and documents, and “demonstrating their commitment to assist with the investigative process”. They claim to be participating in the legal proceedings and have appealed to the media and the public not to label them as absconders.
