Mahadev's Detained Ravi Uppal Could Be brought to India Soon (Image: Pixabay)
Owner of the Mahadev online betting app, Ravi Uppal has been detained in Dubai. The Dubai Police detained Uppal on the basis of the red alert issued by the Interpol. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently investigating the app owner on money laundering which is to illegal betting. Ravi Uppal, along with Saurabh Chandrakar, owns the online app.
In Chhattisgarh, ahead of the elections, the Mahadev app had found itself in a political hotspot, leading to police probe in the matter. The profit turnover of the app, in a day has been reported as Rs 200 crore, reported the NDTV. The case is being investigated by the ED, the Chhattisgarh and Mumbai police.
In October, the investigating agency had registered a case of money laundering against Uppal and his partner Sourabh Chandrakar at a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court, in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, reported the mint. Later, at the request of the ED, a red notice has been issued by the Interpol.
The 43-year old Uppal, was detained in Dubai last week and could be extradited very soon to India, the mint reported officials saying. Regarding this, the ED officials are in touch with authorities in Dubai. Sourabh Chandrakar, Uppal’s partner who owns the app, is still in hiding as efforts to find him are on. In February, Sourabh’s wedding was held in Dubai, costing Rs. 200 crore, which included celebrities from Bollywood as guests.
Uppal has a passport of Vanuatu, which is a Pacific Ocean island country, along with his Indian citizenship, which he has not renounced, the ED informed the court in the charge sheet. The ED added that, Uppal has “generated and enjoyed proceeds of crime and is involved in their concealment and layering,” its complaint. On the proceeds of the ED said that it could be up to Rs. 6,000 crore. The agency also spoke of the involvement of other people, including bureaucrats in the matter.
It said that, Uppal was “looking after the delivery of the liaisoning money to the bureaucrats and politicians of Chhattisgarh through Chandrabhushan Verma,” who is an assistant sub-inspector of police, and others. In November, before the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly elections, forensic investigation and statement by Asim Das, a cash courier, threw open accusations at Mahadev app owners that they have paid around Rs. 508 crore to Bhupesh Baghel, a senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of the state. Later, the Asim Das claimed that he had been framed. These matters are under probe, the investigating agency said.
The ED investigations show that the Mahadev app promoters, who are from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh operates from a central office in UAE with branches franchised to known people on a 30 to 70 percent profit ratio. The app had almost 30 calls centres in India and abroad, including in countries, Malaysia, Thailand and the UAE.
Until now, the ED has arrested 6 people in this matter – Sunil Damani, Anil Damani, Assistant Sub-Inspector Chandrabhushan Verma of the Chhattisgarh Police, Satish Chandrakar and a constable, reported the mint.
