On Sunday, the Economic Offences Wing (EWO) in Chhattisgarh has filed a case against Ex-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and others in the alleged Mahadev Online betting scam based on a probe reported by the ED.
The ED, which has been investigating the Mahadev app-linked money laundering case for more than a year allegedly in the past that probe has shown the involvement of various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, where the two main promoters of the app hail from.
The Details of the FIR includes that it was filed on March 4 based on a complaint by the Electorate Directorate(ED), emerged late on Saturday night few hours after the Lok Sabha elections were announced.
In the copy of the FIR, Bhupesh Baghel’s under the list of accused/suspects with the address- “Padumnagar Bhillai”. It also provides full address of many other suspects including police constables and hawala operators.
Since filing FIR on March4, state EW-ACB officials have barely touched the topic on the FIR in the Mahadeo Book online betting scam. However, for now according to sources, they have revealed that a case has been registered under IPC sections 120B and 34 for criminal conspiracy and common intention, 406 for criminal breach of trust, 420 for cheating,467 for forgery of valuable security, 468 forgeries for cheating and 471 for fraudulently or dishonestly using any document as genius.In the name of “Protection Money”, ED conducted searches and arrested few individuals suspecting connection with the Mahadeo Book Scam, had earlier alleged that government functionaries, including officials, allowed illegal activities after receiving that “protection money”.
Chandrakar and Uppal paid bribes worth Rs 508 crores to Baghel to which ex- CM denied, quoted by an alleged promoter of the Mahadeo Book, the central agency in November 2023, just ahead of the assembly elections.
Also as per sources, the central agency has asserted that the Mahadev Book Case promoters have allegedly paid substantial sums as protection money to multiple police officers, administrative officials and influential political figures to prevent law enforcement from intervening in their illicit operations.
As per reports, these funds were purportedly routed to the police and administrative officials via hawala channels, subsequently reaching high-ranking police officials and influential political figures.
Allegedly according to ED, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who originally hails from Bhilai, allegedly provided online avenues or illegal betting on live games such as cricket,tenis, badminton, poker and card games. The Mahadev online book betting application is linked to a syndicate that facilitates online platforms for unlawful betting websites.
In the background reports of EOW naming him in the Mahadeo Book scam-related FIR, ex- CM Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to address a press conference at the state Congress headquaters later in the evening.
