ED Summons Ranbir Kapoor In Mahadev Betting App Case, Bollywood Actor Allegedly Received Money For Promotion

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a summons on Wednesday (4 October) to actor Ranbir Kapoor in connection with an alleged scam involving an online betting app, NDTV reported.

Kapoor has been called upon for his association with the promotion of the Mahadev online book betting app. The actor is required to appear before the investigative agency on 6 October.

The ED alleges that he received a substantial sum of money, purportedly sourced from criminal proceeds. The agency has identified 12 other actors from both Bollywood and Tollywood who are currently under scrutiny.

Additionally, approximately 100 influencers are also being investigated, and they may be summoned as part of the ongoing inquiry.

As of now, there is no confirmation on whether Ranbir Kapoor will personally appear at the ED office on Friday or designate a representative.

The masterminds behind the Mahadev app, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, originally from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, operated the app from its headquarters in the UAE, with call centers located in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and the UAE.

The ED contends that the Mahadev app is a component of a larger syndicate facilitating online platforms for illegal betting websites, involved in enrolling new users, creating user IDs, and laundering money through a complex network of benami bank accounts.

An ED official revealed that the promoters managed several similar apps, collectively generating daily profits of Rs 200 crore. In the previous month, the agency conducted searches in Kolkata, Bhopal, Mumbai, and other locations, seizing incriminating evidence and freezing or confiscating Rs 417 crore in proceeds of crime.

In a statement issued last month, the agency highlighted that Chandrakar and Uppal established a significant presence in the UAE and were showcasing their ill-gotten wealth.

Chandrakar's wedding in Ras Al Khaimah saw a lavish expenditure of Rs 200 crore in cash, involving the hiring of private jets to transport family members from Nagpur to the UAE and payment to celebrities for performances.

The statement indicated that Rs 112 crore was transferred through hawala channels to an event management company, M/s R-1 Events Pvt Ltd, and Rs 42 crore was paid in cash for hotel bookings.