A day after actor Ranbir Kapoor was summoned for questioning, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday issued summons to actors Shraddha Kapoor, Huma Qureshi, Hina Khan and comedian Kapil Sharma in connection with the Mahadev online betting app case. The officials revealed that the three actors have also been summoned for promoting Mahadev online book betting app. A senior official from the ED confirmed the development but did not divulge further details in the case. The officials revealed that the agency wanted to inquire on the payment that the actors have received for promoting the app due to which they were called for questioning. On Wednesday, the ED had issued summons to Kapoor instructing him to appear for questioning. However, it appears that the actor has written to the agency seeking more time to appear before them. According to the ED, Mahadev Online Book provides online platforms for illegal betting in different live games such as poker and other card games, chance games, cricket, badminton, tennis, football and others, even providing an avenue to bet on different elections in India. It also provides a facility to play several card games such as “teen patti”, poker, “dragon tiger”, virtual cricket games among others. According to sources, the agency learnt about many celebrities endorsing these betting entities and performing at their functions in return for hefty fees layered through dubious transactions but ultimately paid from the proceeds of online betting. The agency in August arrested businessmen brothers Sunil and Anil Dammani, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Chandra Bhushan Verma, and Satish Chandrakar in the case. While the two main promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, are wanted in connection with the money laundering probe. So far, the ED has conducted searches at 39 locations across Raipur, Bhopal, Mumbai and Kolkata and seized illegal assets worth Rs 417 crore.
