“The action follows investigations conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against illegal betting app syndicates and subsequent raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, exposing the app’s illegal operations,” the electronics and IT ministry said in a statement.
“The accused Bhim Singh Yadav, working as a constable in the Chhattisgarh Police Force and one Asim Das are currently in custody, having been arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for committing of the offense of money laundering. s 3, punishable u/s 4 of PMLA, 2002,” it added.
“Can there be a bigger joke?…” Bhupesh Baghel on ED’s allegations of receiving ₹508 cr from betting app promoters Mahadev
The Centre’s action amid allegations that the Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel received crores of rupees in the form of kickbacks from bookies to finance party campaign, a charge denied by CM and Congress.
The ED claimed that a forensic analysis and a statement made by a “cash courier” led to “shocking allegations” that betting app promoters Mahadev have so far paid around Rs 508 crore to Bhupesh Baghel and that “these are under investigation”.
The alleged agent, 38-year-old Asim Das, was arrested by the agency in Raipur after recovering Rs 5.39 crore cash from him. It was allegedly sent by the app promoters from the UAE “specifically to hand over large sums of cash for election expenses of the ruling Congress party”.
“The Government of Chhattisgarh had full authority to recommend termination of website/app under Sec 69A IT Act. However, they did not and there is no such request from the state government while they are investigating it for the last 1.5 years. In fact, the first and only request has been received from the ED and has been implemented. Nothing stopped the Chhattisgarh government from making similar demands,” Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.
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