Mahadev betting app proceeds of crime hit Rs 92,000 crore, app still running: ED

In October 2023, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed its first prosecution complaint, seeking custody of Saurabh Chandrakar, the alleged mastermind behind the Mahadev betting app. Since then, the total proceeds of crime have skyrocketed from around Rs 11,000 crore to an estimated Rs 92,000 crore. The betting application is still operational, and the illicit funds are continuing to accumulate.

The Mahadev online betting platform, along with its sister sites Skyexchange.com and Lotus365.com, are all estimated to have generated proceeds of crime ranging from Rs 75,000 to 80,000 crore, with Skyexchange.com alone estimated at Rs 11,000 to 12,000 crore. The syndicate allegedly ran a widespread illegal betting network, accepting bets on sports and elections across India.

Police sources reveal that the Mahadev app started operations in 2017 but gained significant traction during the pandemic in 2020. The syndicate operated under various aliases like laser247.com, bethbhai.com, betbook247.com, tigerexch247.com, cricketbet9.com, and Teen Patti, Poker, and Dragon Tiger, rigging all games to keep 70-75 percent of the money.

The syndicate allegedly used fraudulent methods to acquire bank accounts, including documents of unsuspecting individuals, and laundered the money through multiple layers of accounts before sending it abroad. They also employed professional Hawala operators in Mumbai and Gujarat for international money transfers. The syndicate is believed to earn a monthly sum of Rs 450 crore.