The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of searches on Wednesday across Mumbai, various spots in West Bengal, and the Delhi-NCR region, as part of its ongoing investigation into alleged money laundering linked to the Mahadev online gaming and betting app. This investigation purportedly implicates several high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh.
According to official sources, about 15 premises in these regions are currently under scrutiny by investigators from the federal probe agency, acting under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
As of now, the ED has made a total of nine arrests in connection with this case.
Earlier statements from the agency suggested that illicit funds from the app were utilised to offer bribes to political figures and officials in Chhattisgarh, the home state of the primary promoters and operators of the app.
Celebrities and Bollywood actors have also been summoned for questioning regarding their involvement with the online betting platform and its financial transactions.
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The ED has already filed two charge sheets in this case, naming Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the primary promoters of the alleged illegal betting and gaming app, among others. Previous raids related to this case have also been conducted. The estimated proceeds of crime in this instance are believed to be around Rs 6,000 crore, according to the ED.
In a separate development, the ED called upon Niranjan Hiranandani and his son Darshan Hiranandani, the promoters of Mumbai-based real estate giant Hiranandani Group, for questioning regarding a foreign exchange violation case, disclosed official sources on Sunday.
Reportedly, the Hiranandanis have been instructed to appear at the central agency’s Mumbai office for questioning. Alternatively, they may choose to provide initial responses through an authorised representative.
Darshan Hiranandani has been residing in Dubai for several years. Last week, the ED conducted searches at approximately four properties linked to the Hiranandani Group in and around Mumbai under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).