Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor has found himself in the crosshairs of investigative agencies as he has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Mahadev betting app money laundering case. The case gained significant attention when Kapoor attended a lavish ₹200-crore wedding in the UAE in February, which was being probed by authorities.
The wedding in question was that of Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the promoters of the Mahadev betting app, who tied the knot in Ras Al-Khaimah. Reports suggest that the entire wedding expenditure of ₹200 crores was paid in cash.
“In February 2023, Sourabh Chandrakar got married at RAK, UAE, and for this marriage ceremony, the promoters of Mahadev APP spent around ₹200 Crore in Cash,” stated the ED in a statement dated September 15.
Ranbir Kapoor has requested a two-week extension to appear before the ED for questioning. The involvement of Ranbir Kapoor in this probe can be traced back to his attendance at the high-profile wedding, which drew the attention of investigative agencies. The wedding was reportedly funded by the promoters of the Mahadev betting app, a platform that has come under scrutiny for alleged money laundering activities.
The Mahadev betting app case revolves around two residents of Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, namely Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who have become the subjects of ED’s focus. The investigative agency has issued non-bailable warrants and lookout circulars for both individuals.
According to reports, the network associated with the Mahadev betting app extends beyond India and encompasses countries like the UAE, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Pakistan. The ED has taken stringent actions, freezing and seizing assets worth ₹417 crores in connection with the Mahadev online betting case.
Sourabh Chandrakar, a former owner of a juice shop in Bhilai’s Nehru Nagar, and Ravi Uppal, who owned a tire shop, have now become central figures in the probe, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the case that spans across borders and involves substantial sums of money.
