Former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, Bhupesh Baghel, raised questions about the central government regarding the Mahadev app. Contesting elections from the Rajnandgaon Lok Sabha constituency in Chhattisgarh, when questioned about his alleged involvement in the Mahadev app case, he reacted strongly, reported IndiaTV. He questioned the central government, asking how much money has been involved nationwide and how much the state’s double-engine government has received.
Bhupesh Baghel also reacted to Amit Shah’s statement during an election rally where he accused Baghel of the scam. As seen in a video on ANI’s page on X, Baghel asked how much donations have the current government received in connection to the Mahadev app. In the case of alleged betting through the Mahadev app, the Economic Offences Wing has identified Bhupesh Baghel as the main beneficiary. Allegations state that he received the highest amount and promoted betting in return. However, Bhupesh Baghel denies any involvement in the scandal. He said that the app is operational nationwide, and he played no role in any malpractice. This issue was raised to tarnish his image before the elections and is now being forcefully highlighted.
The betting game on the Mahadev app started at Rs. 500. Initially, even those who lost were shown as winners, and they were rewarded with the winning amount. This fueled greed among the players, leading them to invest large sums in the game. However, they eventually faced losses. According to reports, there were around 30 centers of this app in Chhattisgarh and other states. Nearly 10 lakh people placed bets on this app in a year, involving transactions worth Rs. 5,000 crores.
The Mahadev online betting app is a syndicate of several websites and apps. Its headquarters are in the UAE, with call centers also in Sri Lanka and Nepal. The company franchises other apps at a 70:30 profit ratio. Allegations suggest that the Mahadev app is involved in bringing in new users to illegal betting websites and facilitating financial transactions. Recently, the Enforcement Directorate conducted raids in several cities, including Kolkata, Bhopal, and Mumbai, seizing and freezing assets worth Rs. 417 crores while investigating the Mahadev online lottery app case.
