Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, along with actors Huma Qureshi and Hina Khan, has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Mahadev gaming app case. This development comes after actor Ranbir Kapoor was also asked to appear before the ED regarding the same case.
The ED has alleged that these celebrities received substantial amounts of money from the proceeds of a crime related to the Mahadev Online Book App. The app is accused of facilitating illegal betting and money laundering activities through a network of benami bank accounts.
The promoters of the Mahadev app, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, have been named as the masterminds behind the online betting operation. Despite their humble backgrounds as a juice shop owner and a tire shop owner, they managed to establish a vast betting network not only in India but also in the UAE, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan.
The ED claims that Chandrakar and Uppal had around 4,000 panel operators in India who facilitated online betting activities, with each operator serving approximately 200 customers. Their operation was reportedly making an astounding ₹200 crore a day.
Chandrakar’s wedding in the UAE earlier this year, which allegedly cost ₹200 crore in cash, raised eyebrows and attracted the attention of authorities. The wedding was attended by several Bollywood celebrities, some of whom have also been summoned by the ED as part of the investigation.
In recent months, the ED has conducted raids at 39 locations in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bhopal, seizing assets worth ₹417 crore in connection with the Mahadev app case.
The summons to Kapil Sharma, Huma Qureshi, Hina Khan, and Ranbir Kapoor highlight the widening scope of the investigation into the alleged illegal activities associated with the Mahadev gaming app. Authorities are cracking down on individuals involved in facilitating such operations and are taking legal actions to deter illegal betting and money laundering activities.
