Mahadev Betting App Case: Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the main promoters of the Mahadev betting app, is expected to be brought to India soon following his recent formal arrest in Dubai on the basis of an Interpol issued arrest in a money laundering and fraud case, reports news agency PTI quoting official sources. Chandrakar, along with another promoter of the app, Ravi Uppal, was detained and put under "house arrest" in that country late last year following the ED's request for the issuance of a Red Notice (RN) against them.

According to NDTV sources, it was said that the money was moved around, the extent of the nexus involved in the operation of the app, and the titular role of two Chhattisgarh-based brothers. Both Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal hail from Chhattisgarh's Bhilai. However, they operated the Mahadev betting app from Dubai. According to the report, when he lived in his hometown, the former ran a juice shop. He is said to have left for Dubai in the year 2019.

The duo, according to the NDTV report, opened call centres in several cities of Malaysia, Thailand, the UAE, and India, through which various subsidiary apps were made to facilitate online betting. Around 30 call centres were being operated in Chhattisgarh and other states of India. These call centres were being operated with the help of two persons who are identified as Sunil Damani and Anil Damani. They both are close aides of Chandrakar and Uppal.

According to ED, the network consists of over 4,000 'panel operators', based across different states in India. Using the method, the duo made at least Rs 200 crore daily, and managed to build a criminal empire in the UAE. 

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According to NDTV quoting sources, the probe by the ED found that thousands of crores were swindled through the betting and other interlinked apps.

A Close Look At Nexus

According to NDTV, Chandrakar and Uppal, along with the police, bureaucrats, and politicians, operated a nexus to run the app and manage its proceeds in India. A large number of Benami bank accounts were opened with the help of the Damanis. According to the report, Anil Damani was responsible with rerouting the money obtained through hawala to pay the police, politicians, and bureaucrats to avoid coming under the scanner. An Assistant Sub Inspector, according to the report, named Chandra Bhushan Verma, was also sent money for the same purpose. He was reportedly in direct contact with Vinod Verma, the political advisor of then Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, with whose support he was managing the syndicate of police, bureaucrats, and politicians. 

According to the call records, Damanis have been in constant touch with both Chandrakar and Uppal. Satish has been arrested by the ED. According to the probe bodu, the projected proceeds of crime in the case are around about Rs 6,000 crore. 

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Chandrakar got married at UAE's Ras Al Khaimah in 2023 and about Rs 200 core in cash was spent for the event. Around 27 Hindi film celebrities and relatives of Chandrakar were taken by chartered flights and the celebrities performed at the wedding and were also paid crores of rupees through hawala.