CBI Files Charge Sheets Against 72 Accused in Mahadev App Case

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed charge sheets against 72 accused in the Mahadev App-related corruption and illegal betting syndicate cases.

The charge sheets, filed on Thursday, include six accused in the corruption case and 66 accused in the linked betting syndicate case. The accused in the corruption case have been charge-sheeted under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and IPC provisions related to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.

The CBI alleges that the accused were part of a conspiracy involving the payment and routing of alleged bribes to public servants in exchange for protection to the Mahadev App betting syndicate. Ashim Das is alleged to have acted as a cash courier, while the others are accused of facilitating or handling transactions linked to the alleged payments.

The agency has also filed additional evidence against alleged Mahadev App promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who were charge-sheeted earlier and are considered the principal accused in the case. Both are the subject of Interpol Red Notices issued at the request of Indian authorities.

Chandrakar was arrested recently in Oman after allegedly entering the country using a forged Indonesian passport, while the current whereabouts of Uppal are not known. Indian agencies continue to pursue legal measures to secure the return of both accused to face trial in India.

In the separate betting syndicate case, the CBI filed five charge sheets against 66 accused, including Chandrakar, Uppal, and members of various alleged betting panels through which the proceeds of crime were generated and routed. The accused have been charged under provisions of the IPC and the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act.

The CBI alleges that the Mahadev App emerged as one of the country's largest illegal online betting syndicates, run from outside Indian soil. Investigation has established that the syndicate operated illegal betting panels across the country, enrolling users and running games and betting markets, generating illegal profits which were then laundered through a web of mule accounts before being transferred abroad.

A portion of the proceeds of crime was allegedly used to pay protection money to public servants to shield the illegal operations from law enforcement action. The latest charge sheets form a crucial part of the legal record required for India's extradition request against Chandrakar, who is currently in Oman.

Senior officials familiar with the probe said that securing Chandrakar's return is unlikely to be straightforward, as he allegedly entered Oman using a forged Indonesian passport. Offences involving forged passports are treated seriously under Omani law, as they relate to national security and border control.

The Mahadev App case has significant implications for India's efforts to combat online betting and corruption. The case highlights the need for increased cooperation between law enforcement agencies and international partners to tackle the issue of online betting and money laundering.

In conclusion, the CBI's filing of charge sheets against 72 accused in the Mahadev App case marks a significant development in the investigation. The case has far-reaching implications for India's efforts to combat corruption and online betting, and the extradition of Chandrakar and Uppal will be a major test of the country's ability to bring fugitive economic offenders to justice.