Sources have told NDTV how the money was routed, the extent of the nexus involved in the app’s operation, and what the titular role of two brothers from Chhattisgarh means.
New Delhi: Indian authorities seem set to likely accept Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the key influencers of the Mahadev betting app.
Sources told NDTV how the money was laundered, how large the nexus that ran the app was, and what, on paper, looks like the titular role of two brothers from Chhattisgarh.
According to sources, Chandrakar’s formal arrest in Dubai was due to an Interpol-issued arrest warrant in a case related to money laundering and fraud.
Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, another app promoter, were detained and placed under “house arrest” in Dubai in the last days of the previous year after the Enforcement Directorate sought the issuance of a Red Notice or RN against them.
Mahadev’s promoters included Chandrakar and co-promoter Ravil Uppal, who belonged to Chhattisgarh’s Bhilai.
However, the Mahadev betting app was run from Dubai. Chandrakar is said to have owned a juice shop when he lived in his hometown. It is said that he left for Dubai in 2019.
Starting the app, after opening call centers in most cities of Malaysia, Thailand, UAE, and India, from which various subsidiary apps were made to facilitate betting online, the duo operated around 30 call centers in Chhattisgarh and other states.
India with the help of two persons, identified as Sunil Damani and Anil Damani, who both have emerged to be close aides of Chandrakar and Uppal.
According to reports, the ED mentioned that the network of around 4,000 ‘panel operators’ who operate from different states of India managed approximately 200 customers placing bets.
Through this method, the two earned at least ₹ 200 crore daily and, thereby, built a criminal empire in the UAE.
