Ranbir, Shraddha, Sunny And Atif Summoned By ED

Bollywood celebrities are currently entangled in legal issues as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken notice of their associations with the founders of the Mahadev gambling app, whose assets have been frozen.

The ED has issued summonses to several celebrities, including Shraddha Kapoor, Tiger Shroff, Sunny Leone, Huma Qureshi, Atif Aslam, Hina Khan, Kapil Sharma, and Rahat Fateh Ali Khan. This summons is related to their attendance at the extravagant 200 crore wedding of Sourabh Chandrakar, the CEO of the Mahadev app, which took place in the UAE in February.

Additionally, actor Ranbir Kapoor, who was also summoned by the ED in connection to the same matter, has requested a two-week extension before appearing before the agency. The ED has not yet made a decision regarding this extension request.

It's worth noting that Ranbir Kapoor is not considered an accused party in this case but is being questioned to ascertain his knowledge of the source of funds he received for endorsing the betting app.

According to insider information, the ED is investigating approximately 100 individuals, including celebrities and influencers, for their potential involvement in a money-laundering case. These individuals either attended or performed at the wedding of the Mahadev app's CEO in February and the company's success celebration in September 2022.

During the financial scrutiny of these events, a complex network of financial transactions emerged, involving various services such as wedding planning, dance performances, and decorations, primarily conducted in Mumbai. Allegedly, these services were paid for through illicit channels known as "Hawala routes," totaling Rs 112 crore, and directed to an events management company.

The Mahadev online betting app had a significant presence in Chhattisgarh, and during the ED's investigation, it was revealed that the app's promoters had paid Rs 40 crore to an event management company to organize a large gathering in Dubai on September 18.

Both the ED and police departments in several states are currently conducting investigations into the Mahadev Book app, an online betting platform. The app facilitated illegal betting on various online games, including poker, card games, games of chance, badminton, tennis, football, and cricket. The app is purportedly owned by Saurabh and Ravi Uppal, who reside in Dubai, while the company is operated from outside Dubai, where gambling is legal, in contrast to India, where gambling is prohibited.