ONE of the two main promoters of the Mahadev online gambling app, Sourabh Chandrakar, spent Rs 200 crore on his lavish wedding in the UAE, where his family members arrived in private jets from Nagpur.This sensational revelation has been made in the investigation of the Enforcement Directorate.
The ED which is investigating money laundering charges of an estimated Rs 5,000 crore in connection with the Mahadev Online Book app, has also said that celebrities were hired to perform at the marriage of Chandrakar, who ran the online gambling operations from Dubai along with fellow promoter Ravi Uppal.
Both Chandrakar and Uppal hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and are wanted in connection with the money laundering probe, said the ED. Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal have created an empire for themselves in the UAE. The sudden and illegal riches are being openly flaunted by them.
In February 2023, Sourabh Chandrakar got married at RAK (Ras Al-Khaimah), UAE, and for this marriage ceremony, the promoters of Mahadev App spent around Rs 200 crore in cash. Private jets were hired to ferry family members from Nagpur to UAE. Celebrities were hired to perform in the marriage. Wedding planners, dancers, decorators etc were hired from Mumbai and hawala channels were used to make payments in cash.
The ED began its probe into the case earlier this year and arrested four people last month. the ED has conducted searches at 39 locations across Raipur, Bhopal, Mumbai and Kolkata and seized illegal assets worth Rs 417 crore. The agency is also in the process of issuing Red Corner Notices (RCN) against Chandrakar and Uppal, the two alleged kingpins. A special PMLA court in Raipur has also issued non-bailable warrants against the absconding suspects in order to get the RCNs issued against them.