The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has set its sights on several Bollywood stars and other high-profile individuals in connection with an ongoing investigation into the illegal betting website Mahadev Online Book (MOB). The ED's inquiry has uncovered a web of financial transactions and associations that may be illegal.
The investigation gained momentum due to a chain of money transactions leading back to MOB. It revealed that prominent Bollywood figures, along with a host of other celebrities, accepted payments from Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the promoters of MOB. In return, they will participate in a grand event held at a 7-star hotel, Ras Al Khaimaj in Dubai, on September 18 and 19.
The extravagant Dubai party was purportedly organised to celebrate the "grand success" of MOB's web business. ED investigators are closely examining the financial transactions associated with this event. They aim to establish a concrete link between the celebrities and the MOB management.
The ED's attention is primarily focused on a dozen well-known figures from the entertainment industry, especially in Mumbai. This includes comedians, actors, television personalities, and even a big Bollywood star. Some of these celebrities have also appeared in YouTube videos advertising the service. It is reported that they received INR 40 crore to attend the party. Associations between celebrities and online betting sites like MOB are made to attract a younger population.
Aside from the Dubai extravaganza, the ED's probe has shed light on a series of cheating incidents reported in the states of Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh.
Recently, ED detained four individuals, including an assistant sub-inspector (ASI), in Chhattisgarh. The four detained individuals in Chhattisgarh were identified as Anil Dammani and Sunil Dammani, both hawala operators; Satish Chandrakar; and ASI Chandrabhushan Verma. Simultaneously, offices belonging to Vinod Verma, the political advisor to the state's chief minister, were searched as well.
The ED's inquiry was initiated based on cases reported by the police in Visakhapatnam, Chhattisgarh, and several other states. Additionally, the agency searched the Mumbai offices of an unknown event management company in Malad. It was discovered that this event management company organised the event for MOB in Dubai.
The searches are part of a broader effort to find the extent of MOB's network. Their network has agents and franchise owners spread out internationally.
However, this is not the first instance of unregulated betting sites conducting public events. In April, another unregulated betting site, Fairplay, held a gathering in Phuket, Thailand, during the IPL 2023 season. The event included numerous A-list celebrities.
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