Indian Government Blocks Mahadev Book Online Along with 21 Other Illegal Betting Apps and Websites
A restraining order was imposed on Mahadev Book Online on Sunday by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) of India. According to a government press release, a grand total of 22 wagering applications and websites that were discovered to have contravened the laws of India will be impacted by the order.
Two individuals with ties to Mahadev Book Online have been apprehended, including Chhattisgarh Police officer Bhim Singh Yadav. Asim Das, a currency courier, is the second person who has been confiscated. Arrest warrants have been issued for both individuals in connection with allegations of money laundering, pursuant to Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in India.
The targeting of Indian consumers by the Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based betting application Mahadev Book Online is considered illegal by the authorities of India. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has lodged allegations that Mahadev Book Online is being employed to facilitate money laundering.
According to Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, despite having the authority bc game app to do so, the government of Chhattisgarh neglected to issue a recommendation regarding the closure of the illicit wagering website and application. In order to accomplish this, the Chhattisgarh government might have invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
Crackdown on Illicit Betting Operations in India
The occurrences pertaining to Mahadev Book Online have transpired subsequent to the implementation of revisions to the Information Technology Rules in the spring. These amendments establish a distinction between online wagering operations that are lawful and those that are not, in violation of Indian legislation. As of now in 2023, dozens of unlawful wagering operations that violated Indian legislation have been prohibited.
The ED ultimately submitted the request to prohibit Mahadev Book Online and the twenty-one other websites and applications. The ED is conducting an investigation into a betting app syndicate that is allegedly associated with a number of political figures. Furthermore, Asim Das, the informant who confronted the ED, levied allegations against Bhupesh Baghel, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, alleging that he routinely received monetary remuneration from promoters of Mahadev. Email correspondence and forensic evidence corroborate Asim Das’ assertions that Baghel has been the recipient of remittances amounting to approximately Rs 508 crore. Further investigation will be conducted by the ED; however, Baghel has refuted the allegations. The ED has also summoned Bollywood actors Huma Qureshi and Ranbir Kapoor, among others, in connection with the Mahadev incident.
As a consequence of the Mahadev Book Online case, authorities have conducted numerous investigations on purported Mahadev centers throughout India, including those situated in Chhattisgarh. Raids were carried out in September at various locations associated with the Mahadev application, including Mumbai, Kolkata, and other urban centers. As a consequence, Rs 417 crore in revenues believed to have been generated from the illicit operation were seized.