Actors Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor have been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) today in relation to a case involving a gaming app. They are among several stars who will be questioned regarding the Mahadev app, which is alleged to facilitate illegal betting. Ranbir Kapoor has requested a two-week extension before appearing before the ED, while it is unclear if Shraddha Kapoor will be present today. Comedian-actor Kapil Sharma, as well as actors Huma Qureshi and Hina Khan, have also been summoned on separate dates and have similarly asked for a two-week delay. Although the celebrities are not accused in the case, they will be questioned about their knowledge of the app’s payment mechanisms. The ED claims that Ranbir Kapoor received a substantial amount of money from the promoters of the Mahadev app, which was allegedly obtained through illegal means. The Mahadev app is accused of providing online platforms for illegal betting websites, money laundering, and operating a network of benami bank accounts. The ED alleges that the app’s promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, based in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, and Dubai, respectively, operate multiple similar apps and make approximately Rs 200 crore per day. The agency further claims that the promoters spend significant sums of cash on advertising betting websites to attract new users and franchise seekers. In a recent operation, assets worth Rs 417 crore were seized during raids at multiple locations in Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bhopal in connection with the Mahadev app. The scrutiny on the Mahadev app was intensified following the cash-based Rs 200-crore wedding of Sourabh Chandrakar in the UAE in February.
Sat. Oct 12th, 2024
