New Delhi . TV presenter and former Bigg Boss contestant Shefali Bagga is in the news for handing over Rs 1.20 crore to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) amid the investigation into the Mahadev Online Betting App syndicate case. According to the charge sheet filed by the investigating agency in the Raipur court, Shefali Bagga had received money from the syndicate for the promotion of an illegal online betting app. After interrogation he handed over this amount to the agency.
Investigation revealed that Shefali Bagga was paid a total of Rs 1.5 crore for preparing promotional videos for Mahadev online betting app. After ED interrogation, he handed back Rs 1.20 crore to the agency. Bagga said during questioning that she was not aware that the app she was promoting was being operated illegally. He has a huge fan following on social media.
The ED investigation focuses on the alleged proceeds of crime related to the Mahadev online betting app syndicate and its utilization. The agency has filed a charge sheet against 42 people in this case. The name of Ebix Group Chairman Vikas Garg is also included in this. ED had earlier arrested Garg and assets worth more than Rs 940 crore were attached before his arrest.
According to the allegations of the investigating agency, Vikas Garg was transferring the crime proceeds received from Mahadev Betting Syndicate to his companies through alleged mastermind Harishankar Tibrewal. Tibrewal channeled hundreds of crores of rupees of alleged crime proceeds received from Mahadev Betting Syndicate and Sky Exchange Betting Syndicate through Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) and bonds to Garg's companies.
According to the chargesheet, Vikas Garg and Harishankar Tibrewal, through some others, used the proceeds of the alleged crime to manipulate the share prices of several listed companies of Garg. Vikas Garg was a member of Delhi BJP, but he was removed from the party after the arrest came to light.
In the same case, a charge sheet has also been filed against EaseMyTrip promoter Nishant Pitti. He is accused of forwarding the alleged crime proceeds of about Rs 59 crore received from Harishankar Tibrewal. The transaction of this amount has also been included in the investigation in the context of activities related to Mahadev Syndicate.
During the investigation of Mahadev betting syndicate, ED had earlier sent summons to many Bollywood celebrities. These include actors, actresses, performers and singers. According to the investigation, some people had participated in events organized abroad on the invitation of the promoters of the syndicate or their associates, while some had promoted the Mahadev Online Betting Syndicate through videos and clips.
According to the latest charge sheet of ED, the total proceeds of crime related to Mahadev online betting syndicate is said to be more than Rs 75,000 crore. The agency fears that the actual amount may be even higher. Many promoters including Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal are said to be still absconding in the case. Till now ED has filed six chargesheets in this case.