The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its action against the operators of the Mahadev Book Online betting app by attaching assets worth Rs 22 crore. The latest move targets fugitive Ravi Uppal, who disappeared from preventive custody in Dubai late last year, along with other accused involved in the money laundering case linked to the online betting platform.
Uppal and his associates, including Saurabh Chandrakar, are accused of operating a large-scale betting syndicate and laundering illicit proceeds. The Dubai-based promoters are also alleged to have bribed a former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. Chandrakar has been detained by Dubai police following an Interpol notice, while efforts are ongoing to secure Uppal’s extradition through coordination with the UAE government.
The ED’s latest attachment includes Uppal’s Dubai property, Atria Ra, valued at over Rs 6.7 crore. Properties belonging to Chandrakar’s associate Rajat Kumar Singh, located in Bhilai and Dubai, were also seized. Additionally, the assets of another associate, Saurabh Ahuja, were attached in Durg and Bhilai. According to the ED, Ahuja was operating at least 100 betting panels of the Mahadev Book Online app.
So far, the ED has attached assets exceeding Rs 2,600 crore in connection with the case, arrested 13 individuals, and arraigned 74 entities across five prosecution complaints. The case highlights the extensive network involved in online betting operations and their links to money laundering and corruption.
Officials stated that these enforcement actions aim to disrupt the financial infrastructure of the syndicate, prevent further laundering of illicit funds, and recover assets for the government. The investigation also seeks to hold accountable the key figures behind the operation, including those who attempted to flee the country to evade prosecution.
The Mahadev Book Online betting app case has drawn nationwide attention due to its scale and alleged links with political corruption. The ED continues to trace the flow of money through multiple entities and jurisdictions, leveraging international cooperation, particularly with the UAE authorities, to bring the primary accused to justice.
Experts say the attachment of assets in multiple locations, both in India and abroad, sends a strong message about the government’s determination to tackle online gambling syndicates and their associated financial crimes. Authorities have emphasized that all proceeds from illegal betting operations are liable for confiscation and will be used to strengthen enforcement and regulatory frameworks.
The ongoing investigation is expected to reveal further details about the network, its financial channels, and the role of associates in facilitating the illegal operations. The ED has assured that all procedural and legal requirements are being strictly followed while conducting the asset attachment and pursuing the extradition of the accused.
