Mahadev App Promoter Ravi Uppal Detained In Dubai, Faces Possible Deportation To India
In a significant development in the Mahadev betting app case, Ravi Uppal, one of the main promoters, has been detained in Dubai following a red corner notice by Interpol at the Enforcement Directorate’s request. With a reported daily profit of ₹200 crore, the app stirred political controversy in Chhattisgarh before the elections.
Enforcement Directorate alleged a payment of ₹508 crore to former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, based on a cash courier, Asim Das’s claims. However, Das later retracted, stating he was framed. Uppal, who holds a Vanuatu passport, was found using it freely while retaining Indian citizenship and applying for an Australian visa.
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The other promoter, Sourabh Chandrakar, with a ₹200-crore Dubai wedding attended by Bollywood stars, is still evading authorities. The app’s operations, traced to Chandrakar and Uppal in Dubai, involved subsidiary apps, call centers in India, Malaysia, Thailand, and the UAE, with 30 in India alone.
ED officials revealed links between the promoters and police, bureaucrats, and politicians, maintaining secrecy through regular payments. Six arrests have been made so far, including the Damani brothers and police officials. Damani brothers ran benami bank accounts, facilitating hawala transactions and bribes, with a total of ₹60-65 crore in the past few years.
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Satish Chandrakar, with a stake in call centers, managed illegal transactions and had connections with a fugitive gangster. Uppal and Chandrakar denied involvement, blaming Shubham Soni based in Dubai. Soni, caught with ₹5 crore, released a video alleging the payment of ₹508 crore to Baghel. Bollywood celebrities, including Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Kapil Sharma, have been summoned by ED for their association with the app.
