05 October,2023 08:31 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan Khan
(From left to right) Kapil Sharma, Huma Qureshi, Hina Khan
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned several prominent celebrities, in connection with the Mahadev app case, as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering related to promotional activities.
Kapil Sharma, a well-known comedian and actor, is among those summoned by the ED for questioning. Hina Khan, a popular television actor, and Huma Qureshi, a Bollywood actor have also been summoned by the probe agency.
This came a day after the federal probe agency issued a summons to actor Ranbir Kapoor. He has sought two weeks' time to respond to the summons.
The Mahadev app case has garnered significant attention due to its association with various celebrities who endorsed the app. The ED is probing potential money laundering activities involving these celebrities and the app's promoters. The exact sums received by these celebrities from the app promoters remain undisclosed. ED officials have expressed suspicions that a substantial amount of money laundering may have been directed toward celebrities involved in promoting the app.
The Mahadev app case took a significant turn when it was revealed that numerous celebrities attended an extravagant wedding of one of the app's promoters, Saurabh Chandrakar, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) earlier this year. These celebrities were allegedly compensated in cash through an event management company suspected to be linked to the proceeds of the crime.
In addition to the summoned celebrities, sources suggest that some cricketers may also have endorsed the app and could be summoned for questioning in due course.
The ED's investigation has revealed that the Mahadev app is hosted in Germany and operates multiple call centers in Nepal, Dubai, and Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the same promoters are reportedly involved in running four more similar apps.
The main promoters of Mahadev Online Book, Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, operate their business from Dubai and offer franchising opportunities on a 70-30 profit-sharing basis. These promoters are currently facing multiple cases registered against them in Raipur (Chhattisgarh).
The ED has emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into potential hawala operations transferring betting proceeds to offshore accounts. The agency has also uncovered significant cash expenditures in India for advertising and self-promotion aimed at attracting new users and franchise seekers.
The ED conducted multiple raids in September at 39 locations in Mumbai, Raipur, Bhopal, and Kolkata, seizing property worth Rs 417 crore. Additionally, it was revealed that a substantial amount of cash was spent during Chandrakar's wedding in Dubai, involving private jets, celebrity performances, and payments made through hawala channels.
