ED summons Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor for ‘promoting online betting app’.

Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has called actor Ranbir Kapoor to testify in a case concerning the Mahadev Gaming App. The ED suspects the Mahadev Gaming App, an online gambling platform controlled by two UAE-based drug lords originally from Chhattisgarh in India, of money laundering.

The ED has summoned Ranbir Kapoor since he has appeared in a few advertisements promoting the platform. He is set to appear at the ED’s Raipur office on October 6. 

Mahadev Online Book Betting application is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites. Mahadev app founders are also running 4-5 similar apps, which are being operated from the UAE. 

The probe agency had also said that celebrities were hired to perform at the marriage of Chandrakar in February 2023, who ran the online gambling operations from Dubai along with fellow promoter Uppal.

“In February 2023, Sourabh Chandrakar got married at RAK (Ras Al-Khaimah), UAE and for the ceremony, the promoters of Mahadev App spent around Rs 200 crore in cash. Private jets were hired to ferry family members from Nagpur to UAE, while celebrities were hired to perform at the function.

In addition to about a dozen stars, ED is also probing around 100 social media influencers who were being paid by MOB to promote its 60 betting and gaming apps and websites. ED is also investigating the role of a few sports personalities, including three foreign cricketers, for their endorsement of the MOB platform.