Mahadev online gambling case: ED initiates process to issue Red Corner Notice against Dubai-based kingpins

Chandrakar and Uppal have been staying in Dubai for nearly two years. Uppal is said to be an engineering graduate. The qualifications of Chandrakar are not known. Chhattisgarh police sources told The Indian Express that a look out notice was issued against them three months ago.

ED sources said on Monday a non-bailable warrant was issued against the two accused by a special Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) court and the matter was taken up with the Ministry of External Affairs as part of the procedure to issue red corner notices against Chandrakar and Uppal. As per ED’s website, “Red Corner Notices are issued for fugitives wanted either for prosecution or to serve a sentence. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition, surrender, or similar legal action. Further, Interpol has designated a National Central Bureau in all its 195 member countries as a single point of contact between law enforcement agencies of that member and Interpol. In this regard, the CBI is officially designated as National Central Bureau of India entrusted with the responsibility to publish, maintain and update the Red Corner Notices against fugitives/offenders as requested by law enforcement agencies of India from time to time.”

On August 23, four persons were arrested by the ED, including a low-rung policeman, for allegedly taking a bribe of Rs 60 crore to 65 crore and passing it on to senior police officers and politicians. On Tuesday, after 13 days of ED custody, they were sent to jail where they will be lodged till a court grants them bail. “We have got more leads after questioning of the four arrested accused. Further probe is on,” said ED counsel Saurabh Pandey.

The Mahadev online gambling app provides platforms for illegal betting in different live games such as 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, and more.