Raipur. The noose of the investigating agencies is continuously tightening in the Mahadev online betting app case. The troubles of Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the main accused in the app, have now increased further. After eight days of interrogation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested him in a money laundering case. Raipur's special PMLA court, after the hearing on Friday, ordered Chandrakar to be sent to ED custody for seven days. Now the investigating agency will start connecting the links of alleged illegal earnings, hawala network and financial transactions worth crores of rupees.
As soon as CBI's remand ends, ED takes charge
After completion of Saurabh Chandrakar's CBI remand, he was produced in the special CBI court on Thursday. The court ordered him to be sent to Raipur Central Jail in judicial custody till November 19. Meanwhile, ED has started the process of producing Chandrakar before the court for questioning in its money laundering case. For this, production warrant was obtained on Thursday. Chandrakar was produced in the special PMLA court from Raipur Central Jail on Friday morning. During the hearing, ED argued that custodial interrogation of the accused is necessary to investigate the facts related to the operation of Mahadev online betting app, alleged financial transactions through Hawala and money laundering. At the same time, the defense opposed the ED's remand demand. After the debate that lasted till late evening, the court accepted ED's demand and granted seven days' custody.
ED will investigate from bank accounts to hawala network
The most important question in the ED inquiry will be where and how the money allegedly earned from betting was used. The investigating agency can investigate the transactions in various bank accounts, the hawala network and the role of panel operators. Apart from this, aspects related to payment and distribution of alleged protection money can also be questioned. The agency will try to find out to whom the money received from betting business reached and what role they played in this entire network. Efforts will be made to trace the entire mechanism of alleged money laundering by linking the links of financial transactions.
Big action by CBI at 33 locations in 6 states
On one hand, ED is interrogating Saurabh Chandrakar, while on the other hand, CBI has also expanded the scope of investigation in the Mahadev Satta App case. The agency has raided 33 locations in six states and recovered mobile phones, digital devices and important documents. According to officials, the recovered material indicated money transactions through mule bank accounts and hawala. CBI said that this action was taken on the basis of revelations received from Saurabh Chandrakar after his extradition from Oman. During the raid, premises linked to panel operators of the betting app were targeted. Online betting and gambling panels were found active at many places, which were later deactivated.
The arrest took place after extradition from Oman
It is noteworthy that Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the main promoters of Mahadev online betting app, was arrested by the CBI on November 1 after he was extradited from Oman. After this he was interrogated for eight days. During this, questions related to the operation of the app, role of panel operators, transfer of money through hawala and alleged protection money were asked. Now the seven-day remand of ED is being considered important from the point of view of investigating the economic network of the case. In separate investigations by CBI and ED, efforts are being made to find out how the money was raised from the alleged betting business, through which routes its transactions took place and who are the people associated with this network.
What are Mule Bank Accounts?
Mule bank accounts are bank accounts that are used to receive money allegedly obtained from crime and transfer it to different accounts. Through these, attempts are made to hide the real source of money and the identity of the people involved in the transaction. It is noteworthy that CBI had arrested Saurabh Chandrakar on November 1 after he was extradited from Oman. Now, in separate investigations of CBI and ED, the links related to the alleged economic network of Mahadev Satta App, hawala business and distribution of illegal earnings are being investigated. Many important revelations are likely to be made in this matter in the coming days.