ED alleges Mahadev App promoters gave Rs 508 cr to Chhattisgarh CM

The Mahadev online betting app and its promoters are being investigated by the ED under the anti-money laundering law.

New Delhi: Days ahead of polling in Chhattisgarh where the Congress is seen to have a fair chance of winning, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made a sensational claim that the Mahadev online betting App promoters paid Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel around Rs 508 crore. 

The ED has based its assertion on the alleged statement of a suspected 'cash courier' Asim Das, the forensic examination of his phone and emails by a top Mahadev App functionary Shubam Soni. In a statement, the agency claimed that “many startling allegations” have emerged following its investigation into a money laundering case involving the company.

It said Das was specially flown from UAE by the app promoters to deliver “large amount of cash for electioneering expenses of the ruling Congress” in Chhattisgarh and hand it over to “one Baghel” before he was arrested in Raipur on Thursday allegedly with Rs 5.39 crore.

The ED also arrested a Constable Bheem Yadav, who “unauthorisedly” travelled several times to Dubai in the past three years and allegedly acted as a “conduit” to receive bribe money from the app promoters on behalf of senior officers and politicians in the state.

“...regular payments have been made in the past and so far around Rs 508 crore have been paid by Mahadev App promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh. These are subject matter of investigation,” the ED claimed. Chhattisgarh will go to polls in two phases on November 7 and 17.

Soon after the ED statement, Congress reacted sharply with General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “unleashed his last and only remaining ‘astra’ – ED – the ‘Modi-astra’ to “damage the reputations” of Congress leaders, faced with the prospects of a “certain defeat” in Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

“But the people of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan are the Congress' 'kavach' (armour). Modi's threats and intimidations will only strengthen the resolve of voters who know this is just election drama reflecting the BJP’s desperation,” he added.

Promoted by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the Dubai-based company is accused of using the online book betting app to enroll new users, create IDs and launder money through a layered web of benami bank accounts. The agency has arrested four persons, seized assets worth Rs 450 crore and has filed a prosecution complaint against 14 accused persons.

Das' arrest came after the ED “received intelligence input” on Thursday that a large amount of cash is being moved in Chhattisgarh by the Mahadev App promoters in connection with the Assembly elections. The agency conducted searches at Hotel Triton and another location in Bhilai where they “successfully intercepted” Das.

“Asim Das has admitted that the seized funds were arranged by the Mahadev App promoters to be delivered to one politician 'Baghel' for upcoming election expenses in Chhattisgarh. The ED also discovered some benami bank accounts of Mahadev App in which balance amounts of Rs 15.59 crore has been frozen,” the statement said.

The statement said Yadav, the Constable, had allegedly met Uppal and Chandrakar and participated in the gala functions of Mahadev App. His travel expenses were borne by M/s Rapid Travels of Ahuja Brothers, which the ED claimed was a money laundering and ticketing company of the Mahadev App

Both Das and Yadav were produced before a special court in Raipur, which sent the duo in ED custody for seven days.