Ranbir Kapoor, a co-owner of Mumbai City FC in the Indian Super League (ISL), has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate regarding his involvement with the Mahadev internet betting app. He is required to appear before the investigation agency on October 10.
Kapoor has worked as a social media influencer for an online betting platform and allegedly received compensation for promoting the app.
Additionally, over 14 celebrities who attended Sourabh Chandrakar’s lavish wedding in Dubai, a co-promoter of the online betting app, will also be called in for questioning. These celebrities are expected to serve as witnesses in a money laundering case against the app. The central agency plans to summon more than 100 influencers who endorsed the app in the near future.
The Mahadev Online Book App is a betting app based in the United Arab Emirates. To attract customers, the app set up call centers in several countries, including the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. Customers who contacted these centers were provided with a WhatsApp number where they had to provide personal information. It was later shared with operators in India, particularly in Mumbai, Delhi, and some smaller towns like Chandigarh and Chattisgarh.
In connection with suspected money laundering networks, the central investigative agency conducted searches in various cities, including Kolkata, Bhopal, and Mumbai. The complaint alleges that significant hawala operations are being conducted on the site to funnel betting profits into offshore accounts.
Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the creators of the Mahadev app, are accused of using gambling profits to bribe celebrities. According to the ED investigation, Kapoor was paid by the Mahadev app promoters in exchange for his social media support, and this money is now considered “illicit proceeds.” The ED has not disclosed the exact amount paid to actors and influencers like Kapoor for their marketing efforts.
Ranbir, an avid football enthusiast, has been a co-owner of Mumbai City FC since the Indian Super League’s inception. Ranbir Kapoor, a huge FC Barcelona supporter, and Bimal Parekh bought the Mumbai City FC franchise. Mumbai City FC, owned by Ranbir Kapoor, is currently part of a City Football Group worth $4.8 billion.
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