CBI files 11 charge sheets in Mahadev App betting scandal, 66 accused named
Synopsis
The CBI has filed 11 charge sheets naming 66 people in the Mahadev App case — one of India's biggest illegal betting busts. With alleged kingpins Chandrakar and Uppal still operating from West Asia and 'protection money' payments to public servants now on record, the probe is moving well beyond the app itself into the political and bureaucratic networks that allegedly shielded it.
Key Takeaways
The CBI filed 11 fresh charge sheets on 9 July in the Mahadev App illegal betting case.
A total of 66 individuals are named across two parallel sets of filings, including alleged kingpins Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal .
Six accused face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 , alongside IPC offences of cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The syndicate allegedly laundered proceeds through mule bank accounts and reportedly paid 'protection money' to certain public servants.
The CBI has secured Red Corner Notices against four main accused; Fugitive Economic Offender proceedings have also been initiated.
More charge sheets are expected as investigators pursue the syndicate's alleged political and bureaucratic patronage network.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed 11 fresh charge sheets on 9 July in the Mahadev App illegal betting case, dramatically widening the net around what investigators describe as one of the largest online gambling syndicates ever uncovered in India. The filings name 66 individuals across two parallel sets of cases and add fresh charges against alleged kingpins Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, who remain at large abroad.
What the Charge Sheets Cover
In the first set, the CBI filed six charge sheets against six accused — Ashim Das, Rohit Gulati, Vikas Chhaparia, Anil Dhammani, Vishal Ahuja, and Dheeraj Ahuja — invoking the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with provisions relating to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The agency also placed additional evidence on record against Chandrakar and Uppal, who were charge-sheeted in an earlier round.
In a parallel case, the CBI filed five more charge sheets against 66 individuals, including Chandrakar, Uppal, and members of various betting syndicate panels. These filings invoke the IPC as well as the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act. The panels allegedly acted as conduits for routing proceeds of crime through the network.
How the Syndicate Operated
The Mahadev App is believed to have built a nationwide user base of millions through aggressive social media promotion. The syndicate ran illegal betting panels across multiple states, enrolling users and conducting wagering operations that generated what investigators describe as massive illegal profits.
The proceeds were allegedly laundered through a complex web of mule bank accounts before being transferred abroad. A portion of the money was reportedly paid as 'protection money' to certain public servants — an allegation the CBI says its investigation continues to map. Notably, this alleged bureaucratic and political patronage angle is now a stated focus of the agency's deepening probe.
Fugitives and Red Corner Notices
According to investigators, Chandrakar, Uppal, and several key associates fled India a few years ago and have since been operating the network from West Asian countries. The CBI has already secured Red Corner Notices against four of the main accused through Interpol. Separately, proceedings to declare them Fugitive Economic Offenders under the relevant law have been initiated — a designation that would allow Indian authorities to attach their assets.
What Comes Next
The agency confirmed that further investigation is ongoing to establish the full extent of the syndicate's reach, including its alleged political and bureaucratic connections. More charge sheets are expected in the coming months as the probe expands. Authorities are simultaneously working to dismantle the remaining operational network and pursue extradition or repatriation of the accused currently abroad.
Point of View
But the more consequential detail is buried in the agency's own statement: investigators are still mapping alleged political and bureaucratic patronage. That admission signals the probe has outgrown a straightforward gambling bust and is edging toward territory that could implicate public officials. The Fugitive Economic Offender proceedings against Chandrakar and Uppal are the real pressure lever — asset attachment at home can constrain an operation run from abroad in ways that an Interpol notice alone cannot. The pace of those proceedings, not the charge-sheet count, is the number worth watching.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mahadev App case?
The Mahadev App case involves one of the largest alleged illegal online betting syndicates uncovered in India, promoted by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal . The app built a nationwide network of millions of users and allegedly laundered massive profits through mule bank accounts before transferring funds abroad.
How many charge sheets has the CBI filed in the Mahadev App case?
The CBI filed 11 fresh charge sheets on 9 July , bringing the total number of accused named in this latest round to 66 individuals . These are spread across two parallel sets of cases invoking the IPC, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act.
Who are the main accused in the Mahadev App case?
The alleged kingpins are Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal , who were charge-sheeted in an earlier round and named again in the latest filings. Both are believed to be operating from West Asian countries after fleeing India. The CBI has secured Red Corner Notices against four main accused, including them.
What is a Fugitive Economic Offender and why does it matter here?
A Fugitive Economic Offender is a designation under Indian law that allows authorities to attach and confiscate the assets of individuals who have fled the country to evade prosecution in financial crimes. The CBI has initiated such proceedings against the main Mahadev App accused, which could allow the government to seize their Indian assets even while they remain abroad.
Is there a political angle to the Mahadev App investigation?
The CBI has stated that its investigation is actively mapping the syndicate's alleged political and bureaucratic patronage. The probe has also revealed that a portion of proceeds was reportedly paid as 'protection money' to certain public servants, though no specific officials have been named in the latest filings.
