ED Tightens Grip on Mahadev Betting Network with Major Property Attachment
The Enforcement Directorate's Raipur zonal office has taken decisive action against the Mahadev online betting network. On Wednesday, the agency attached properties worth approximately ₹21.45 crore belonging to key operators linked to the illegal betting syndicate. This move significantly tightens the ongoing money-laundering investigation into the Dubai-based operation.
Details of the Provisional Attachment Order
The agency issued a provisional attachment order on January 10 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. This order freezes movable assets valued at ₹98.55 lakh. It also targets 27 immovable properties across India and Dubai.
These properties include:
- Residential houses
- Commercial shops
- Agricultural land
- Luxury apartments
The total value of these immovable properties reaches around ₹20.46 crore.
Key Individuals and Their Attached Assets
The ED statement identifies several individuals whose assets now face attachment. All are described as key associates or panel operators of the Mahadev betting platform.
Ravi Uppal, identified as a main promoter of the syndicate, currently remains absconding. Authorities have attached his foreign property in Dubai's Atria Ra project, valued at about ₹6.75 crore.
Rajat Kumar Singh faces accusations of operating multiple betting "panels" and earning proceeds of crime between ₹15–20 crore. Described as a close associate of alleged kingpin Saurabh Chandrakar, Singh sees properties in Bhilai and Dubai provisionally attached.
Partners Saurabh Ahuja and Vishal Ramani allegedly ran nearly 100 panels, generating around ₹30 crore of proceeds. Properties registered in their names in Durg and Bhilai now fall under the attachment order.
Vinay Kumar and Honey Singh allegedly operated six panels and handled fake promotion of the betting app. The duo reportedly earned about ₹7 crore, with each making ₹3.5 crore. The ED has attached their residential properties in Jaipur and New Delhi, along with a fleet of vehicles.
Lucky Goyal faces accusations of handling Telegram-based promotional campaigns for the platform, generating proceeds of roughly ₹2.55 crore. Multiple shops and plots in Rajasthan linked to him have been attached.
Dubai-based operator Raja Gupta, who managed at least 10 panels according to the ED, loses an immovable property in Raipur. Investigators claim this property was acquired using laundered betting proceeds.
How the Syndicate Operated
Investigations began after multiple FIRs were registered by police in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The ED has uncovered what it calls a "massive betting syndicate." This network ran illegal online wagering platforms through websites such as Tiger Exchange, Gold365 and Laser247.
The operation worked on a franchise model. "Panels" or "branches" were managed by associates spread across various states. Main promoters Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal allegedly controlled the entire network from Dubai.
Findings suggest the promoters kept 70–75% of the profits generated by these panels. Panel operators received the remaining share. The suspected proceeds of crime traveled through thousands of "mule" or "dummy" bank accounts.
These accounts were opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals using their KYC documents. This method effectively obscured the money trail before funds were deployed in real estate, vehicles and other assets.
Scale of the Investigation
With this latest attachment, the ED has searched more than 175 locations across the country in connection with the Mahadev Online Book case. Movable and immovable assets worth about ₹2,621 crore have been seized, frozen or attached during the probe.
Thirteen people have been arrested in the case to date. Seventy-four entities now stand arrayed as accused in five prosecution complaints (charge sheets) filed by the agency before the designated PMLA court.
Officials indicate the fresh attachment order aims to choke the alleged syndicate's financial backbone. Efforts continue to trace remaining proceeds of crime and secure the custody of absconding promoters operating from overseas.
