Named as accused in Mahadev app case, Chhattisgarh ex-CM Baghel says it’s ‘political retribution’

As per the ED complaint, Mahadev Online Book provides online platforms for illegal betting on various events, including live sport and elections in India. The promoters of the venture, based out of UAE as per ED sources, have allegedly amassed around Rs 5,000 crore through the platform.

On January 1 this year, the agency filed a supplementary Prosecution Complaint (PC) in a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Raipur in connection with the case. The PC, which is equivalent to a chargesheet, was filed against five people including Subham Soni, one of the promoters of Mahadev Online Book, and a driver named Asim Das.

As per the PC, Das, in his statement to the ED after his arrest on December 3 last year, said he was tasked by Soni to deliver a Rs 5.39 crore in cash to Bhupesh Baghel, an allegation rubbished by the Congress leader who has accused the BJP of a political conspiracy. The hefty amount was allegedly part of the “protection money” given by the Mahadev app accused to avoid getting arrested.

In Sunday’s press conference, Baghel targeted the BJP. “This is political retribution. I will neither fear nor move back… If you see the details mentioned in the FIR where roles of other accused have been made clear, neither have they mentioned my role nor name. Why have they not arrested Shubham Soni or other accused till now. I believe BJP has taken protection money from them,” he alleged.

Taunting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Baghel said, “The Mahadev app is still operational. Is this Modi’s guarantee or Sai ki Sushashan (Sai’s good governance)?”

The Congress leader also brought up the Electoral Bonds issue. “At least 14 companies, after raids by ED and I-T, gave money to the ruling party. They received over Rs 1,300 crore through Electoral Bonds from Future gaming and hotel services after raids by central agencies but are they questioned about this?” he asked.

Apart from Baghel, the FIR filed by the Chhattisgarh Police’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB)/Economic Offences Wing (EOW) department also names unspecified bureaucrats, police officers and Officers on Special Duty (OSD). Others named as accused in the FIR were those already arrested or wanted in the ED case. Till now, assets collectively worth Rs 1764.5 crore have been seized/frozen by ED.

Sourabh Chandrakar, 28, and Ravi Uppal, 43, both from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, are the main promoters of Mahadev Online Book. A Red Corner Notice (RCN) has been issued against both Chandrakar and Uppal, who run the operations of the app from Dubai.