Tamannaah Bhatia Summoned By ED In Illegal IPL Streaming Case: Details Here

Actor Tamannaah Bhatia has been called in for questioning by the Maharashtra Cyber Wing regarding the illicit streaming of IPL 2023 on the Fairplay App, a sister app of the Mahadev betting application, as reported by news agency ANI. The actor has been asked to appear before the Cyber Cell on April 29 for interrogation.

Tamannaah Bhatia Summoned By ED

Additionally, it has been disclosed that Sanjay Dutt's name has surfaced in connection with the same case. He was initially summoned for questioning earlier this week but was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. Dutt has requested a rescheduled date to comply with the inquiry.

As per the news agency, the unauthorised streaming activities are said to have resulted in significant financial losses for Viacom, amounting to crores of rupees.

Earlier n October 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued a summons to Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor in connection with the Mahadev online betting app case. Kapoor was required to appear before the ED on October 10. Ranbir Kapoor, along with several other prominent celebrities, were under investigation by the probe agency for his role as a social media influencer associated with the online betting platform. Allegations suggest that he received payments for endorsing and promoting the app.

The ED's investigation extends to the attendance of these celebrities at the lavish wedding of Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the co-promoters of the online betting app, which took place in Dubai.

Mahadev App: Facilitating Illegal Betting

The Mahadev app allegedly facilitated illegal betting on a wide range of online games, including poker, card games, chance games, badminton, tennis, football, and cricket. The app is believed to be operated by Dubai residents Saurabh and Ravi Uppal. It runs from Dubai due to the legality of betting there, while it remains illegal in India. The primary customer base of the app is in India.

Branches, Agents, and ID Assignment

The app had multiple branches in India, with individuals required to deposit approximately ₹20 lakh to become an 'admin' capable of assigning unique IDs to customers. These branches recruited agents who earned commissions for bets placed by clients. Agents generated IDs via calls or messages on platforms like Telegram and WhatsApp. Users were then provided with an ID and password to access the app for betting.

With word-of-mouth referrals, the app garnered 30–40 lakh customers, enhancing its credibility. Payments primarily relied on UPI-based systems, making it easier for law enforcement to trace bettors. Users were encouraged to deposit money into savings bank accounts, many of which were later found to be fraudulent.

Initiation of the Case and Nationwide Impact

The case originated with a police raid in Bhilai by the Durg police on March 30, 2022, following a tip-off about online betting through the Mahadev app. This led to the registration of a case at the Mohan Nagar police station and subsequent raids targeting the app's creators and promoters across the Durg district.

Numerous individuals associated with the app's operations in various districts were arrested. Transactions totalling ₹5,000 crores occurred across India in 2022 through the app, resulting in the filing of over 72 cases and 449 arrests nationwide.

Seizures and Freezing of Bank Accounts

Law enforcement authorities have confiscated 196 laptops, 885 mobiles, various electronic devices, and over ₹40 lakh in cash. Furthermore, approximately 1,000 bank accounts linked to the app have been frozen, effectively halting its operations.