Mahadev Betting App Scam: Ranbir Kapoor summoned by ED, 17 other Bollywood celebs under the scanner

Ranbir Kapoor has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Mahadev Betting App Scam. He is under the scanner with 17 other Bollywood celebs, reports News18. The actor is summoned on October 6.

What is Mahadev Betting App Scam?

Mahadev is an online betting app. It enables illegal betting by enrolling new users, creating their user ids and laundering money through unnamed bank accounts. The ED has already conducted a Nationwide search in the case, including cities like Kolkata, Bhopal and Mumbai. They have already received incriminating evidence and has seized crime worth Rs. 417 crores.

Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal from Bhilai, Chattisgarh, launched the app. Their M/s Mahadev Online Book is run from a central Head Office in UAE. Those involved in the scam reportedly targetted slum dwellers and those with a lower income. They would take the UPI details of these people and launder money through the apps. In return, they paid the slum dwellers a minimal amount to access their UPI id. According to ED, the money has been siphoned off to foreign entities. A large transaction was also in cash. They had previously arrested four people from Chhattisgarh. The search also revealed that Saurabh got married in UAE and spent Rs. 200 crores fraud money on the wedding nuptials. ED also found out that the families were jet off from Nagpur to UAE for the wedding and celebrities were hired to perform at the wedding.

Celebrity involvements?

As per the search conducted by the ED, many celebrities also happened to endorse the betting entities. They also performed at various functions of these app promoters. The celebrities, as per reports, were paid through the online betting. According to a previous report on CNBC-TV18, ED was already looking into the fees and endorsement agreements by the celebs. The celebrities reported to have been involved are – Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Neha Kakkar, Vishal Dadlani, actor Tiger Shroff, Elli Evram, Bhagyashree, Pulkit Samrat, Sunny Leone, Kirti Kharbanda, Nushrat Bharucha and comedian Bharti Singh, Krushna Abhishek and Ali Azgar. Ranbir is the latest suspect on the list.

Ranbir Kapoor, on the work front

Ranbir Kapoor is currently in news for the teaser of his upcoming film, Animal . The movie is helmed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga and features Rashmika Mandanna and Anil Kapoor in pivotal roles. The film is slated to release in theatres on December 1, 2023.