Mahadev Betting App scandal deepens with Pakistan connection, hawala operators in focus

A significant development has emerged in the Mahadev Betting App case, with investigators uncovering a Pakistan connection that implicates hawala operators from Pakistan in facilitating money transactions worldwide for the accused individuals associated with the betting app.

The Mahadev Betting App, an online platform for betting, operated from Dubai and recently came under scrutiny after it was alleged that a staggering sum of Rs 200 crore in cash was spent during the wedding of one of the app's promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar, in the UAE.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been actively investigating the money laundering networks associated with the Mahadev Betting App, conducting searches in various cities, including Kolkata, Bhopal, and Mumbai. During these operations, the ED uncovered incriminating evidence and seized proceeds of crime totalling Rs 417 crore.

According to the ED's statement, the Mahadev online betting app operated as an umbrella syndicate, facilitating the operation of illegal betting websites. It allowed these websites to onboard new users, create user IDs, and engage in money laundering through a complex network of benami bank accounts.

Pak angle emerges in Mahadev betting app case

However, the most recent revelation in this investigation has exposed a Pakistan connection. According to sources, the Hawala operators based in Pakistan were found to have been involved in handling large sums of money on behalf of the Mahadev App's owner and accused, Chandrakar. These hawala operators allegedly conducted transactions worth crores of rupees, extending their operations beyond Indian borders, sources said.

The investigating agency is now exploring the possibility of a connection between the fugitive accused and Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence), sources claimed. This raises questions about potential international links and the involvement of state actors in the illicit activities associated with the Mahadev Betting App.

The revelation of a Pakistan connection in this case adds a new layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation, as authorities delve deeper into the web of money laundering, illegal betting, and international connections.