Ranbir Kapoor summoned in Mahadev betting scam: Key points in the case so far

Actor Ranbir Kapoor was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday over his alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app scam. The actor has reportedly been asked to explain his connection to the main accused, Sourabh Chandrakar, who is on the run. Over a dozen Bollywood stars have come under the scanner of the agency in connection with the scam.

Top sources say that celebrities were flown down to Dubai in a private chartered flight for the wedding celebration of the main accused, Sourabh Chandrakar, in the UAE. The ED suspects around Rs 260 crore was spent by the accused on the wedding celebrations. An event management company was roped in by the main accused to make the payment to the celebrities who performed during the wedding. Investigation so far has revealed that the Hawala channel was used by the main accused to distribute the money.

Here are the 7 takeaways from the developing story so far:

• Ranbir Kapoor has previously endorsed the Mahadev Online Booking App. The ED asserts that he received a sizeable sum of money in return, that came from criminal activity proceeds. 
• According to the agency, 12 additional stars from Tollywood and Bollywood are under consideration. A total of 100 influencers are being scrutinised as well, and they could all be called in for questioning as part of the probe. 
• Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the app's promoters, are from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, but the app was being managed from the business' headquarters in the United Arab Emirates. It operates call centres in the UAE, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
• The organisation asserted that the Mahadev app is part of a larger conspiracy that organises online platforms for illegal betting websites to sign up new users, generate user IDs, and launder money through a complex network of benami bank accounts.  
• In February 2023, Sourabh Chandrakar got married at RAK, UAE, and for this marriage ceremony, the promoters of Mahadev App spent around Rs 200 crore in cash. Private jets were hired to ferry family members from Nagpur to UAE. Celebrities were hired to perform in the marriage. Wedding planners, dancers, decorators etc. were hired from Mumbai and hawala channels were used to make payments in cash. 
• As per the digital evidence gathered by ED, Rs 112 crore was delivered via hawala to an events management company in the name of M/s R-1 Events Pvt Ltd of Yogesh Popat and Hotel bookings costing Rs 42 crore were done by paying in cash in AEDs.
• To date, ED has conducted searches at 39 locations across Raipur, Bhopal, Mumbai & Kolkata and has seized illegal assets worth Rs 417 crore. ED has also earnestly taken up investigation abroad. Hon'ble PMLA Special Court at Raipur has also issued NBWs against absconding suspects.