Shraddha Kapoor becomes latest Bollywood star to be summoned by ED

The ED has already put other stars on the scanner with Ranbir Kapoor being summoned, and just yesterday the agency summoned Kapil Sharma, Huma Qureshi, Hina Khan as well in the Mahadev app betting case.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned actor Shraddha Kapoor in connection with the Mahadev app betting scam, multiple media outlets reported. She is slated to appear before the ED today.

Shraddha Kapoor has been accused of promoting the app with the agency suspecting that the payments she got were proceeds of a crime.

The agency has already summoned Ranbir Kapoor in the same case on October 4, and on October 5 comedian Kapil Sharma, and actors Huma Qureshi and Hina Khan joined the list.

While the Barfi actor was supposed to appear before the agency today in its Raipur offices, Ranbir has sought two weeks time in the matter.

The agency will record their statement under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and try to understand the mode and flow of payment allegedly done to them by the app promoters.

These actors may not be accused in the case, it is understood.

The company promoted by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal was being operated from Dubai. It was allegedly using the online book betting application to enrol new users, create IDs and launder money through a layered web of benami bank accounts, the agency has alleged.

The ED investigation has shown that the Mahadev Online Book App is run from a central head office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials said. It operates by franchising "Panel/Branches" to their known associates on a 70-30 profit ratio, the agency had said.

Large-scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to offshore accounts, it had said.

A huge expenditure in cash has also been incurred in India for advertising of betting websites to attract new users and franchise (panel) seekers, it had said.

The company promoters hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and the Mahadev online book betting application is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites.

(With inputs from PTI)