In the shadowy domain of online gambling, few cases have shocked India quite like the Mahadev Betting App Scam. Operating out of Dubai but targeting millions of Indians, the app masqueraded as an entertainment platform while channelling illicit bets into a massive underground economy. Promising riches and ease of access, Mahadev grew into an unstoppable force—until law enforcement caught on. At the heart of this digital storm lies a web of fraudulent accounts, shell companies, celebrity glam, political controversy, and over INR 6,000 crore in laundered money.
What started as an unassuming app soon became a flashpoint of media trials, Enforcement Directorate (ED) crackdowns, and questions about regulatory failure. This article delves deep into the rise and fall of the scandalous empire of Mahadev Betting App.
Man Behind Mahadev Betting App Scam: Saurabh Chandrakar
Before becoming synonymous with one of India’s largest digital betting scams, Saurabh Chandrakar lived a relatively obscure life. Hailing from Bhilai, a steel city in Chhattisgarh, he once ran a juice shop. Friends and acquaintances describe him as soft-spoken and tech-curious, with a knack for sales and networking. However, it wasn’t until his move to Dubai around 2019 that Chandrakar’s ambitions turned toward the underworld of illegal gambling.
In Dubai, he partnered with Ravi Uppal, another Bhilai native, and together they laid the foundation for Mahadev Online Book. With Chandrakar as the strategic face and Uppal handling back-end operations, the duo orchestrated a network that would soon span continents, manipulate financial systems, and corrupt high-profile sectors of society.
The Timeline: From Juice Seller to Digital Kingpin
2019 — The Origin
Saurabh Chandrakar, an ordinary juice vendor from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, relocates to Dubai in search of better opportunities. There, along with his associate Ravi Uppal, he plants the seeds of what would become one of the largest illegal online betting operations in South Asia. Their creation: Mahadev Online Book.
2020-2022 — Expansion and Deception
The Mahadev network begins expanding rapidly across India. The duo builds a franchise-style system, selling ‘panels’ to Indian operators under a 70-30 profit-sharing agreement. Panel owners act as local administrators, managing bets, clients, and money transfers. The network soon balloons to over 4,000 panel operators and at least 1,600 bank accounts. Daily transactions touch a staggering INR 200 crore.
February 2023 — Mahadev Betting App Owner Marriage Triggered Suspicion
Chandrakar’s INR 200-crore destination wedding in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE becomes a turning point. Private jets fly in guests, Bollywood celebrities like Tiger Shroff, Sunny Leone, and Neha Kakkar perform live, and international artists are paid in cash or via hawala networks. Lavish videos go viral, catching the eye of investigative agencies.
March–July 2023 — Background Investigations and Lead Gathering
Following financial intelligence inputs, the Enforcement Directorate begins low-key inquiries. Suspicious transactions linked to shell companies, benami accounts, and crypto wallets are tracked. Activity spikes around betting events such as IPL and state elections become a red flag.
August 2023 — ED Action Begins
Formal investigation is launched. ED conducts multi-city raids across 39 premises. Key arrests include hawala operators Sunil and Anil Dammani, police officer ASI Chandra Bhushan Verma, and local financier Satish Chandrakar. Assets worth INR 417 crore are provisionally attached.
October 2023 — Political Firestorm
A dramatic twist unfolds when courier Asim Das is caught with INR 5 crore in cash and confesses—on video—to delivering INR 508 crore to then Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, allegedly from the Mahadev network. Baghel denies the charges, calling them a political witch hunt.
Late 2023 — Legal Machinery Ramps Up
The ED files its first chargesheet naming 14 individuals, including Chandrakar and Uppal. Actor Sahil Khan is arrested following evidence of deep ties with the promoters. Interpol issues Red Corner Notices against Chandrakar and Uppal, who remain at large in Dubai.
April 2024 — Star Endorsements Under the Scanner
Ranbir Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, and Tamannaah Bhatia are summoned by ED for questioning. They are linked to promotional events or performances at Mahadev-sponsored gatherings. While some claim ignorance, records show payments routed via offshore shell companies.
May 2024 — Market Manipulation Angle Surfaces
The ED uncovers a stock market laundering trail. Approximately INR 3,000 crore is invested through FPIs registered in Dubai and Mauritius. Firms like Vikas Ecotech, Gensol Engineering, Vikas Lifecare, and Balu Forge are flagged. SEBI launches parallel investigations.
July 2025 — A Web Too Wide
ED has now conducted over 170 raids. Seized assets total more than INR 3,002 crore. Over 74 entities are named in five prosecution complaints. Thirteen individuals have been arrested, but many key players remain offshore.
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Mechanics of the Mahadev Book Scam: Digital Facade, Illicit Core
The Mahadev App was more than just a betting app—it was a criminal ecosystem. Operated through centralized servers in Dubai, it allowed users in India to bet on cricket, elections, casino games, and more. Through unofficial APKs and Telegram channels, users were onboarded using fake KYC documents.
Funds were deposited via UPI and withdrawn using a rotating chain of mule accounts. Profits were routed through subsidiary apps like Lotus365, ReddyAnna, Fairplay, and Kheloyar. Call centers in India, Thailand, Malaysia, and the UAE provided tech support to bettors and agents.
Over 70 shell companies helped layer money transfers. A mix of cryptocurrency, real estate, hawala, and stock investments helped clean the money trail. Dummy employees, forged contracts, and layered shell structures gave the illusion of legitimacy.
Star Power and Dirty Money
Bollywood and social media influencers gave Mahadev a veneer of trust and glamour. Several high-profile names are linked:
- Wedding/Event Performers: Tiger Shroff, Neha Kakkar, Vishal Dadlani, Atif Aslam, Sunny Leone
- ED-Summoned Actors/Influencers: Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan, Sahil Khan
- Social Media Promoters: Tasty Teja, Bhaiyya Sunny Yadav, Local Boy Nani
Some endorsements were reportedly routed via shell firms in Dubai to avoid direct linkage. Many celebrities have denied wrongdoing, but the ED is examining payment contracts and timelines.
Political Fallout: A Scandal with Electoral Impact
Mahadev Betting scandal exploded in Chhattisgarh during the state elections. Allegations of INR 508 crore kickbacks rocked the Bhupesh Baghel administration. ED raids extended to properties linked to his aides and bureaucrats. Although the Congress denied the charges, the opposition BJP leveraged the scam as a campaign issue.
The timing of the revelations led to speculation about the use of the scam as a political weapon. Regardless, the ED insists the investigation is apolitical and evidence-based.
Stock Manipulation and Corporate Trails
Mahadev betting app scam didn’t stop at just betting. Laundered funds found their way into India’s stock markets. Using offshore FPIs, the Mahadev network allegedly manipulated share prices of small-cap firms:
- Flagged Companies: Gensol Engineering, Vikas Ecotech, Vikas Lifecare, Balu Forge, IITL, JTL Industries
- Technique: Pump-and-dump operations, fake news triggers, insider trading
Over INR 573 crore in securities have been frozen. SEBI is working with ED to trace layered transactions.
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The Global Web: Terror and Transnational Links
The Mahadev empire crossed borders with ease. Ties to Dawood Ibrahim’s brother Mustaqeem Kaskar emerged. A clone app, “Kheloyar,” was reportedly set up at his behest. Operators in Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and UAE helped expand the empire.
Investigators say at least 30 international call centres and 70 shell companies were part of the laundering infrastructure. Alleged links to narcotics and terror financing are under probe.
Conclusion
Mahadev Betting App Scam is more than a crime—it is a mirror reflecting the loopholes in India’s regulatory and enforcement framework. It blends digital savvy, celebrity influence, political nexus, and international crime in a way few cases have before.
With over INR 6,000 crore at stake, global implications, and arrests spanning multiple sectors, Mahadev is a blueprint for digital-era crime. As investigations continue, one thing is clear: this scandal may define how India regulates tech, finance, and fame in the years ahead.