Promoters Ravi Uppal and Sourabh Chandrakar, linked to the ₹6,000-crore betting syndicate, are detained in Dubai as Indian agencies move to bring them back amid money-laundering probes.
Background of the Mahadev App Case
Launched in 2018, the Mahadev app ran a ₹6,000-crore illegal betting network, reportedly earning over ₹200 crore daily through 3,200 panels across India and abroad. The syndicate used call centres in Chhattisgarh, Malaysia, and Thailand, with deep political and bureaucratic links.
When exposed in 2023, the case also implicated former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, accused of receiving ₹508 crore — allegations he denied.
Key Details
- Ravi Uppal allegedly holds Vanuatuan citizenship, a nation without an extradition treaty with India.
- Co-accused Chandrakar remains under house arrest in Dubai.
- The ED continues to pursue extradition through diplomatic channels.
What’s Happening?
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) says that both Uppal and Chandrakar orchestrated the Mahadev App scheme, which allegedly ran from the UAE and involved online betting, money-laundering and a network of panel operators.
- Reports say that Dubai authorities have detained Uppal in response to an Interpol Red Notice, and are preparing to extradite both him and Chandrakar to India.
- The projected proceeds of the crime are estimated at around ₹6,000 crore, making this one of India’s largest online gambling-fraud investigations.
Modus Operandi & Network
- The app allegedly functioned through thousands of panel operators across states who recruited bettors, handled money flows, and laundered proceeds through layered networks.
- According to ED, the network used UAE headquarters, and call centres spread across Malaysia, Thailand, India and UAE to operate the betting infrastructure.
- Huge sums were reportedly spent on lavish lifestyles—one source cited a wedding in UAE costing over ₹200 crore by Chandrakar.
Why This Matters
- The scale of the operation underscores the reach and sophistication of illegal online betting and money-laundering networks that exploit cross-border jurisdictions.
- The involvement of high-profile figures, and allegations of political-bureaucratic links, raise concerns about institutional complicity.
- Extradition from UAE will test India’s bilateral legal cooperation and may lead to more asset seizures and legal actions domestically.
What’s Next
- The ED will formally move extradition paperwork for Uppal and Chandrakar; once returned to India, they will face charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and relevant gambling/finance laws.
- Further investigation is likely to target financial flows: shell companies, benami bank accounts, hawala channels and linked stock-market manipulation.
- Affected states (especially Chhattisgarh) will come under scrutiny for regulatory gaps and how the syndicate managed to operate locally.
