GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 17th Feb. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) announced on Friday the apprehension of Nitish Diwan in connection with its investigation into the illicit activities of the Mahadev online gaming and betting application. Diwan, taken into custody under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Raipur on Thursday, was subsequently remanded to ED custody until February 24 by a special court.
This marks the ninth arrest in the ongoing probe, with previous detainees including individuals such as Nitin Tibrewal, Amit Agrawal, Asim Das, Bheem Singh Yadav, Chandrabhushan Verma, Anil and Sunil Dammani, and Satish Chandrakar.
According to the ED, Diwan held a prominent position within Mahadev Online Book (MOB) in the UAE, maintaining close ties with the app’s promoters. Allegedly, he was dispatched to Zimbabwe to explore opportunities for the establishment of betting operations on behalf of the app’s founders.
The ED asserted that Diwan possessed assets beneficially owned by the promoters of Mahadev Online Book and actively participated in illegal operations, managing bank accounts in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to facilitate fund transfers.
Further investigations revealed the establishment of companies in Diwan’s name in the UAE, which were utilized for visa services and the illicit routing of betting proceeds. The agency accused Diwan of knowingly aiding MOB’s money-laundering endeavors.
In a subsequent chargesheet filed by the ED in January, Diwan provided statements indicating the extensive scale of operations conducted by Mahadev and its subsidiary “Reddy Anna Book,” generating significant daily revenues. He disclosed details of lavish expenditures, including the rental of villas in Dubai and extravagant events attended by Bollywood personalities.
The ED has implicated Chandrakar and Uppal as the main promoters of the illegal betting and gaming app, both of whom were recently detained in Dubai based on an Interpol red notice. Efforts are underway to secure their deportation or extradition to India.
Allegations of substantial bribery involving politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh have emerged, with the ED estimating the proceeds of crime to be approximately ₹6,000 crore. Previous accusations against former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have drawn significant attention, prompting denials and accusations of political vendettas.
As investigations continue, the ED remains focused on unraveling the intricate web of illegal activities surrounding Mahadev and holding accountable those involved in perpetrating financial crimes of such magnitude.
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