Mahadev App Scam: Mahadev App Scam: The revelation of online betting through the Mahadev app stirred up both the government and the political landscape. Initially, the BJP implicated the then Congress government of Chhattisgarh and Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in this scam worth over 1500 crores. However, as the exposure of this multi-crore betting game unfolded, efforts were made to suppress and conceal it. Those involved in the game and accusing the then government of illegal earnings are now themselves under suspicion.
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Scam of about 6000 crores:
ED conducted raids nationwide based on statements from various accused and witnesses, seizing property and cash totaling about 2000 crores. The scam’s estimated value is around 6000 crores. While many accused are in jail, police officers involved in the betting business remain unsuspended. Besides Chhattisgarh, the Mahadev App scam also extended to Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, with operations spanning from Raipur and Bhilai to Dubai. Numerous Chhattisgarh cadre police officers were implicated. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating. Concerns have been raised about ED’s investigation due to the Chhattisgarh EOW registering the case against unknown persons.
There’s speculation in political circles that 200 crores were used to suppress the case, revealing the ‘game’ behind the scenes. The Mahadev Betting App case has exposed the involvement of many white-collar individuals in this distribution of 200 crores. It’s surprising that the BJP government is now trying to protect them and discredit the ED’s findings. This investigative report reveals who saved whom and who’s involved in this ‘inside game’.
Interesting fact: 200 crore mark from start to end
The shocking aspect of the Mahadev betting app scandal is that the figure of Rs 200 crore tells the story from beginning to end. Actually, when the operator of Mahadev betting app spent Rs 200 crore on the wedding, the royal wedding revealed this game of betting. When the layers of this started getting exposed after guests were invited on private planes, big names came to the fore.
The BJP raised this issue a lot and cornered the then Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and his government. But when the power changed in Chhattisgarh, the same figure of Rs 200 crores came to the fore again. It is being said that this time this Rs 200 crores was used to suppress the case and save those involved in it.
Names of these officers are in ED report, but government is silent !
ED had asked to register FIR against Chhattisgarh police officials on the basis of investigation, interrogation and statements, but their names are missing in EOW’s FIR. The names of 2005 batch IPS Sheikh Arif, 2001 batch IPS Anand Chhabra, 2001 batch IPS Ajay Yadav and 2007 batch IPS Prashant Agarwal, Abhishek Maheshwari, Chandra Bhushan Verma are in the headlines. Apart from these, a long list of police station in-charges and betting traders including Sanjay Dhruv was given. More than 70 names are mentioned in it, but selected names were written in the FIR.
When pressure of 900 crores was put on the directors, they changed the party
If reliable sources are to be believed, the operators of Mahadev App were paying the fixed amount which was in crores. But pressure was increased on the operators and a demand of 900 crores was placed on them. If they did not do so, they were threatened of getting into trouble. In this, along with the leaders, there were also police officers who were threatening. When the operators saw the political environment and the attitude of the public amidst this pressure, they saw the possibility of the Congress government going away and the BJP government being formed in Chhattisgarh. Then what happened, the operators changed the party. This is the reason that the more vocal the BJP became during the rule of Congress, the more it was seen on the backfoot after its own government came to power.
If you want to understand the Home Minister’s statement and the conspiracy behind this incident, then read on…
Under the special powers granted under Section 50, statements of the accused and witnesses are recorded, which can be produced as evidence in court. In contrast, statements taken during ordinary police investigations cannot be used as court evidence.
There are significant differences between investigations under the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The police investigate under the CrPC, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigates under the PMLA, with extensive powers in terms of charges, witnesses, and evidence.
In CrPC, the accused’s or witness’s statement is recorded under Section 161, based on the principle that no one can be convicted against themselves. In contrast, statements recorded by the ED are considered equivalent to statements made before a magistrate under Section 164, preventing the accused or witness from retracting their statement later; doing so could lead to conviction.
The ED has conducted raids based on statements from the accused and witnesses. Raids were conducted at Dammani Bhai’s Aabhushan Jewelers, leading to the bust of a major hawala racket. Chats and other evidence were collected from various computers and mobiles, forming the main basis against this money laundering network. While convictions cannot be solely based on statements, raids can still be conducted.
The Home Minister stated that guilt cannot be established based solely on someone’s statement, emphasizing the need for more authentic investigation. Yet, former CM Bhupesh Baghel has been accused based on the same statement and evidence. This raises suspicions of a political conspiracy, especially since the former accommodating officer of Chhattisgarh State Police still holds high positions.
If those involved in or benefiting from this case hold top positions in the police department and the CM secretariat, can it be denied that they will try to repay the favors they received during the Congress government? By manipulating FIRs and investigations, the Congress could indirectly benefit from these shortcomings, obtaining a Supreme Court stay and political advantage.
The Mumbai Crime Branch filed an FIR in the Mahadev App case based on evidence and witnesses, following a court order prompted by a social worker’s application. This suggests that the court carefully reviewed the facts and agreed with the evidence before ordering the FIR.
The Chhattisgarh Home Minister is facing criticism from within his party following his statement. There are discussions within the BJP organization questioning why those responsible for his imprisonment, ordering lathi charges on BJP workers, and harassing protesters still hold high positions.
The BJP and the state’s people are questioning why the Modi government is so intent on disproving his claim of putting every culprit of the Mahadev app scandal in jail. Has a guarantee been negotiated with officers in the CM House for Rs 200 crore?
Five questions to the Home Minister of Chhattisgarh:
1- What was the compulsion that the BJP government of Chhattisgarh came on the back foot in the Mahadev case?
2- The government is accused of saving the officers, for which large-scale transactions have taken place. What is your response to these accusations?
3- Bhupesh Baghel was made an accused on the basis of his statement, then you changed your stand in the case of the officers. Could you clarify this change in stance?
4- Is the government deliberately ignoring the investigation of a central agency like ED in this case?
5- If this is not so, will an FIR be registered against the officers whose names came up in the ED investigation?
