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14 arrests in 3 states for ‘IPL betting on Mahadev platform’

The 14 were running three “panels” of the Mahadev betting platform named L95 Lotus, Lotus 651 and LOTUS 656. According to police, a panel is an online portal through which bets can be placed.

14 arrests in 3 states for ‘IPL betting on Mahadev platform’While six of those arrested are residents of Chhattisgarh, three are from Jharkhand, two from Madhya Pradesh and one each from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab.

Amid a CBI investigation into the Mahadev betting platform, the Raipur police have arrested 14 bookies over three days across three states – Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Assam – for taking bets on the Indian Premier League (IPL) via the platform.

The 14 were running three “panels” of the Mahadev betting platform named L95 Lotus, Lotus 651 and LOTUS 656. According to police, a panel is an online portal through which bets can be placed.

Raipur Senior Superintendent of Police Lal Umed Singh said three of the accused bought the panels for Rs 15-25 lakh from the owners of the Mahadev platform through the other accused.

While six of those arrested are residents of Chhattisgarh, three are from Jharkhand, two from Madhya Pradesh and one each from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Punjab.

Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested one Nikhil Vadhvani, 31, from Raipur on April 13 for allegedly accepting online bets. The others were arrested from Kolkata and Guwahati on the basis of information gathered from Vadhvani.

A total of 67 phones, eight laptops, four routers, 94 ATM cards, 15 SIM cards, 32 bank passbooks, three cheque books, a security camera and three betting record books were seized. A total of Rs 30 lakh was also seized from the accused.

SSP Singh said, “So far, we have frozen 500 bank accounts with transactions worth crores. We have written to banks to freeze a total of 1,500 bank accounts of accused and bettors, with crores of transactions, which include Mahadev app and other gambling apps too.”

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The Mahadev betting platform case first came to light under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in Chhattisgarh and had become a political flashpoint between the Congress and the BJP, with both parties accusing each other of shielding main accused Saurabh Chandrakar and his alleged partner Ravi Uppal.

Last month, the CBI searched Baghel’s private and official residences in connection with the case. Days later, CBI sources said Baghel has been named in their FIR as an accused.

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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