Mahadev Case Accused Uppal: Mahadev app could have contributed to shock defeat of Congress | India News

NEW DELHI: Ravi Uppal’s arrest in Dubai marks a big turn in the MahadevBook online case. The allegation by one of the accused that the promoters of the online betting platform had given Rs 500 crore in bribes to Congress politicians became a big issue in the Chhattisgarh elections, with BJP using it as a stick to beat the then ruling party in the state.The PM’s “Mahadev ko bhi nahin chhoda” (they did not spare even Lord Mahadev) resonated through the campaign and, as the post-poll analysis suggest, could have contributed to the shock defeat of Congress which was seen as the overwhelming favourite.

It was on November 2, just weeks ahead of the polls in the recently concluded Chhattisgarh assembly elections, the ED arrested Asim Das, a courier with Rs 5 crore cash, in Raipur. The agency had claimed that the courier on questioning had confessed that the cash was to be delivered to politician ‘Baghel’ and was sent by Mahadev App promoters Chandrakar and Uppal.
“From the questioning of Asim Das, and from the forensic examination of the phone recovered from him, and examination of an email sent by Shubam Soni (one of the high ranking accused of Mahadev network) many startling allegations have come forth, namely, that regular payments have been made in the past and so far around Rs 508 crore have been paid by Mahadev App promoters to Bhupesh Baghel, chief minister of Chhattisgarh. These are subject matter of investigation,” the ED had said on November 3 on the arrest of Das. Later, Das withdrew his allegations.

TOI had earlier reported that after filing a chargesheet against the masterminds of Mahadev App, one of the biggest gaming app frauds in the country, the ED began the process of seeking extradition of its UAE-based promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. Chandrakar is also being probed for spending around Rs 200 crore on his own wedding in the UAE.
An application for Red Corner notice was moved after filing of the chargesheet and obtaining open ended non-bailable warrants against the two fugitives, two important criteria required to seek extradition of an accused from a foreign jurisdiction.