Bharti Singh denies knowing Mahadev betting app promoter as ED launches probe | Exclusive

Ranbir Kapoor has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app scam. The actor will reportedly be required to clarify his ties to the main accused, Sourabh Chandrakar, who is currently on the run. This investigation has cast a wide net, with over a dozen Bollywood stars coming under the agency's scanner for their alleged ties with Chandrakar. 

According to ED, 14 celebrities attended Chandrakar's wedding in Dubai, where allegedly Rs 260 crore was spent. Reportedly, one of the guests was actor-comedian Bharti Singh. Some visuals from the alleged Dubai wedding of Chandrakar also surfaced on the internet, showing Bharti interacting with the guests in attendance. 

(Bharti Singh reportedly attended the wedding of Sourabh Chandrakar in Dubai in February 2023 | Image: Republic)

When Republic reached out to Bharti and asked if she attended Chandrakar's wedding in Dubai, she denied knowing him. When probed further about her involvement in promotions of the Mahadev App, she said "I haven't promoted anything, I'm listening to this from you for the first time. Who is Saurabh? I don't know anything about him. Talk to my manager. I don't know anything about it."

3 things you need to know

• Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who hail from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, are the main promoters of the Mahadev Betting App and reportedly, operate from Dubai.
• ED has recently conducted searches against the money laundering networks linked with the Mahadev App in cities like Kolkata, Bhopal and Mumbai.
• During the investigation, a large amount of incriminating evidence has been recovered and ED has frozen/seized proceeds of crime worth Rs 417 crore.

14 celebs under the ED scanner

To facilitate this lavish wedding, the main accused reportedly involved an event management company, which would handle payments made out to the celebrities. Those who were in attendance include Tiger Shroff, Ali Asgar, Vishal Dadlani, Neha Kakkar, Elli Avram, Bharti Singh, Sunny Leone, Bhagyashree, Pulkit Samrat, Kriti Kharbanda, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Krushna Abhishek, Atif Aslam, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan.

Why is Ranbir Kapoor summoned by ED?

While Ranbir Kapoor didn't attend the Dubai wedding, he is one of the celebrities who are under ED's scanner in relation to the Mahadev gaming app scam. The actor reportedly endorsed the betting app. Sources said that the Brahmastra actor will be questioned about the mode of payment received by him. More summons by the ED will be issued in the coming time.

(With inputs from Sandeep Singh)