Mahadev app owner Ravi Uppal detained in Dubai; ED seeks deportation
New Delhi (PTI): Ravi Uppal, one of the two main owners of the Mahadev online betting app, has been detained in Dubai by the local police on the basis of a red notice issued by the Interpol at the behest of the ED, official sources said Wednesday.
Uppal, 43, was detained last week in that country and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) authorities are in touch with the Dubai authorities to get him deported to India, they said.
The businessman is being probed by the ED in a money laundering case linked to alleged illegal betting through online apps apart from the Chhattisgarh and Mumbai Police crime branch.
The federal probe agency had filed a money laundering charge sheet against Uppal and another promoter of the Internet-based platform, Sourabh Chandrakar, before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Chhattisgarh's Raipur in October.
A red notice was subsequently issued against the two by the Interpol on the basis of the ED's request based on a court issued non-bailable warrant.
Process is on to find Chandrakant, 28, too, the sources said.
The agency had informed the court in the charge sheet that Uppal has taken a passport of Vanuatu, an island country in the Pacific Ocean, even as he has not renounced Indian citizenship.
Uppal, the ED said in the prosecution complaint, "generated and enjoyed proceeds of crime and is involved in their concealment and layering." It had alleged Uppal was "looking after the delivery of the liasioning money to the bureaucrats and politicians of Chhattisgarh through Chandrabhushan Verma", an assistant sub inspector of police, and some others.
The projected proceeds of crime in this case is about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the ED.
The agency had claimed in November, just before the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly polls, that forensic analysis and statement made by a 'cash courier' named Asim Das have led to "startling allegations" that Mahadev betting app promoters have paid about Rs 508 crore to former Chhattisgarh chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupesh Baghel so far, adding these allegations were "subject matter of investigation".
Das had later submitted before the special court in Raipur that he had been framed as part of a conspiracy and he had never delivered cash to politicians.
The ED investigation has shown that Mahadev Online Book App is run from a central head office in the UAE, officials said. It operates by franchising "Panel/Branches" to their known associates on 70-30 per cent profit ratio, it had said.
Large scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to off-shore accounts, it had said.
Large expenditure in cash is also being done in India for advertising of betting websites to attract new users and franchise (panel) seekers, the ED had said.
The company promoters hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and the Mahadev online book betting application is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites.
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CM Yogi invites Singapore's Global Indian Schools to Lucknow
Singapore (PTI): Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has invited Singapore-based Global India International School (GIIS) group to set up its model in Lucknow.
The visiting Chief Minister appreciated GIIS as a school modelled on the values of Excellence and Skills upgradation.
He invited the school group to set up its model in Lucknow during his address to the Indian diaspora.
Yogi observed this and encouraged GIIS to continue on this path and bring this excellence to Lucknow.
"We are humbled by his invitation and will definitely take steps in the right direction," said Atul Temurnikar, chairman and co-founder of the Global Schools Group, the parent of GIIS and 64 international campuses across major Asian capital cities as well as the United Kingdom.
"GIIS has always been an innovative organisation where the student is the focal point. Our goal is to bring the best education to every child, and an up-and-coming Uttar Pradesh can be our next step in that direction,” Temurnikar told PTI on Tuesday.
The Group, which has 64 international campuses, hosted the Chief Minister Adityanath at its One World International School campus for dialogue and interaction with the Indian diaspora on Monday evening.
Temurnikar noted that it was a meaningful dialogue on the state’s expanding investment landscape after hosting 1,500 Indians based in Singapore at the interaction.
“Uttar Pradesh has a promising future under his leadership, which is evident from the state’s strong focus on infrastructure, industry, and governance. It is presenting significant opportunities for global collaboration, he said.
“The success of this evening (interaction) reflects the growing interest within the Indian diaspora in contributing to India’s economic growth and long-term development,” added Temurnikar.
