The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted raids in Mumbai and Delhi targeting celebrity managers who hired Bollywood stars to perform for Sourabh Chandrakar’s wedding, owner of the Mahadev app who is under investigation for money laundering.
In February 2023, Chandrakar hosted a lavish wedding in Dubai, spending around Rs 200 crore in cash. The event saw the participation of several Bollywood celebrities, as per sources.
According to sources, the celebrity managers were paid in cash, through hawala operators, by event companies. A share of that money was handed to the actors and singers who performed at the wedding.
During the raids, cash of around Rs 2.5 crores was seized and statements of these celebrity managers were recorded by the agency. Most of the celebrity managers have revealed that they received payment in cash through operators from the event companies.
The celebrities involved may soon be summoned for interrogation.
The ED also conducted searches at the premises of Rapid Travels, a company responsible for ticketing operations for the Mahadev app promoters, their families, business associates, and the celebrities endorsing betting websites.
MAHADEV BETTING APP CASE
The ED’s probe into the alleged Mahadev betting app scam, revealed that Chandrakar and Uppal, both hailing from Chhattisgarh’s Bhilai, are the main promoters of Mahadev Book app and operate their business from Dubai.
The app provides online casino and betting platforms, activities that are illegal.
The agency found substantial evidence of money laundering and froze or seized proceeds of crime worth Rs 417 crore.
The ED and Chhattisgarh Police have issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Chandrakar and Uppal. Despite being banned in India, the Mahadev app continues to operate in other countries.
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