Mahadev App Creators Obtained Vanuatu Citizenship to Evade Law Enforcement Agencies: Report

Mahadev App creators Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who are prime suspects in the online betting scam, have reportedly obtained citizenship in Vanuatu and have an official passport of the country with them.

According to a Mid-Day report that quoted the Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet, various Indian agencies have launched a manhunt for the duo and they have been using their Vanuatu passports to evade law enforcement during their travels abroad.

“During the investigation, it was gathered that Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have obtained passports of the country Vanuatu [in Oceania] and they have been roaming freely using these passports,” the publication quoted in its report.

The ED recently filed its first chargesheet (prosecution complaint) in the Mahadev App online betting scam against 14 people under sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, Saurabh Pandey, the agency’s lawyer, has confirmed to CNN-News18.

ED officials said preliminary investigation suggests the scam could be worth Rs 6,000 crore. A total of Rs 41 crore has already been provisionally attached by ED as proceeds of crime.

Chandrakar and Uppal have been named as the main conspirators by the ED. The agency has accused the duo of gambling and laundering money through the app.

Satish Chandrakar, another suspect, has been accused of facilitating the working of the Mahadev App when Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar fled to Dubai.

“Satish paid money and bought the ID for the Mahadev App. This ID was then used to get others to place bets using the app. The proceeds were split 70-30 by Satish Chandrakar and the Dubai-based promoters,” the agency explained.

The ED also said the next leg of the investigation is focusing on Bollywood stars, influencers, and TV actors who were allegedly paid through Hawala to promote the app.

The app creators came under ED scanner after the lavish Rs 250-crore wedding of Saurabh Chandrakar in Dubai, which soon turned into a scandal with several Bollywood actors and celebrities receiving summons from the ED in the money laundering probe.

“Ranbir Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, and Huma Qureshi have been summoned for questioning but they are not cooperating. We are looking at the legal options we have,” an ED official said.