UNdated USING God’s name is not always a shield for good deeds, sometimes it comes back to hound the perpetrator. Same is the case of the “Mahadev on-line book” scam where Mahadev’s name has been invoked. While the promoters of the app have made profits worth Rs 800 crore per month in Dubai, the victims of the on-line games from across the globe have lost their money due to “manipulated” architecture of the app. The mental trauma, following the loss of crores of rupees in on-line gaming, also pushed many youngsters in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh to end their lives. The “Mahadev on-line book”, an illegal betting app in virtual games, has spread its tentacles across multiple states and international borders. The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED’s) exhaustive investigation has uncovered the complicated modus-operandi of the illegal betting and money-laundering activities associated with the app and its promoters. It is evident from the ED investigation, which has been accessed by ‘The Hitavada’, that this nefarious operation has extended its reach far and wide as FIRs were registered across India. Moreover, the network has devised a system of franchising panels and spread its influence not only within the country but also abroad. The core of the criminality stems from the fact that many of these betting activities are impermissible under the law. Benami bank accounts are being utilised to receive and disburse funds to the players and the transactions remained undocumented and evade taxation.

 

The network employs Hawala channels to transfer funds internationally and the promoters, originally hailing from Chhattisgarh, have managed to create assets across the world. They relied on their links in Chhattisgarh to maintain a steady supply of young work force ready to work on the “Mahadev book”, the ED has found out. The app provides an on-line platform for illegal betting in various live games, including poker, card games, chance games, and betting on sports such as cricket, badminton, tennis, and football. It also facilitates betting on Indian elections. The operation maintains multiple websites and operates closed groups on chat apps for communication. The key feature of this illegal network is its reliance on WhatsApp for communication.

 

When a user contacts “Mahadev book” through WhatsApp, he is provided with two separate contact numbers. Call centers, primarily operating abroad, handle WhatsApp communication, directing the user to a Panel Operator. This Panel Operator then engages with the player through WhatsApp and provide information on depositing and withdrawing money. Multiple WhatsApp groups are used for these transactions, such as “Mahadev123 Deposit WhatsApp Group” and “Mahadev123 Withdraw WhatsApp Group”. These groups allow users to deposit money and collect points for making bets and later withdraw the accumulated points from designated IDs. Surge during Covid: The investigation of ED has uncovered the sophisticated on-line betting scam operating since 2019-20. The probe revealed that this platform was controlled and owned by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, both originally from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.

 

The app has seen a significant surge in user engagement especially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The operation is structured as a multi-level marketing model, where various “Panel/Branches” manage clients. These are the franchisees of “Mahadev book”. The collection of money, creation of user IDs, distribution of credentials and handling of funds are all managed by these panel/branch owners. It was found that they retain a substantial portion of profits and require a deposit of Rs 15 lakh for panel operation. The ED suspected that the main promoters of these betting apps have moved abroad, initially to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and are now traveling between Sri Lanka, Australia, London, and Caribbean countries.

 

A call center with approximately 1,000 WhatsApp users is operating from the UAE and a majority of its employees hail from Chhattisgarh. The betting platform operates on a franchise-like model, with panel operators responsible for handling money, managing user IDs, and coins. They transfer a share of the profits to Mahadev’s Head Office via Hawala channels. The investigation revealed that “Mahadev book” referred to its workforce as ‘checkers,’ who engaged in accounting of betting panels and identify defaulting ones. These workers operate in twelve-hour shifts and are accommodated in leased or rented villas, where groceries and other necessities are regularly supplied.