Say Goodbye to Mahadev Book Online: Govt Bans 21 Betting Apps!
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has recently imposed a ban on Mahadev Book Online and 21 other gambling applications. This decision was made in response to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) investigation into the illegal activities of Mahadev Book Online and its associated betting syndicate. Here is all the information you need to know about this latest development.
Let’s ban apps
In PiB’s announcement, MeitY announced that the ban was granted pursuant to Section 69A of the IT Act. The ED has arrested two people in connection with the case. Accused Bhim Singh Yadav, working as a constable in the Chhattisgarh Police Force, and Asim Das have been arrested “under section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for the offense of money laundering u/s 3, punishable u /s 4, PMLA, 2002.”
Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Electronics and Information Technology Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said, “The Chhattisgarh government had all the powers to recommend the closure of the website/app under Section 69A of the IT Act. However, they failed to do so and no such request has been made by the state government when they have been looking into the matter for the last 1.5 years. In fact, the first and only request was received from the ED and acted upon. There was nothing stopping the Chhattisgarh government from making similar requests.”
This news came after the ED alleged that promoters of the Mahadev Book app “paid Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Singh Baghel ₹508 billion” after interrogating accused Asim Das, who “admitted to carrying ₹5 billion to deliver to ruling political leaders from Chhattisgarh,” the ED said. Defending himself against these allegations, the CM remarked, “What can be a bigger joke than this?”
Case history
The perpetrators of the Mahadev Book Online scam were arrested earlier this year under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Several high-profile celebrities like Ranbir Kapoor, Kapil Sharma, Hina Khan and Shraddha Kapoor have also been questioned in the case where the app’s promoters are allegedly making nearly Rs. 4000 Kr. So far, the ED has filed a prosecution complaint against 14 accused.
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