The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken major action in the illegal online betting case related to Mahadev App and has temporarily attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 940.77 crore of businessman Vikas Garg, his family and his associated companies. According to ED, the attached assets include houses, land, equity shares and other securities. The agency says that this action has been taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The investigation of this case was started on the basis of FIR registered in Durg police station of Chhattisgarh and other cases registered in Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Investigation revealed that illegal betting platforms like Mahadev Online Book and SkyExchange were being operated from abroad through franchise based networks. ED claims that illegal earnings of more than Rs 450 crore were being made every month from this network.
This is how black money was converted into white.
According to the ED, the money earned from speculation was shown as white money through shell companies and fraudulent financial transactions. The investigation also revealed that alleged illegal funds amounting to Rs 940.77 crore were routed to companies controlled by Vikas Garg, after which this money was used to purchase shares, securities and other assets.
7 temporary attachments have been issued
The agency said that 7 temporary attachment orders have already been issued in this case and prosecution complaints have been filed in the special PMLA court, Raipur. The court has also taken cognizance of this matter. According to the ED, assets worth about Rs 2,825 crore, including foreign assets, had already been attached, seized or frozen. After the latest action, the total value of attached, seized and frozen properties in this case has increased to around Rs 3,800 crore.
CBI filed 6 charge sheets
In this case, on Thursday itself, CBI has filed 6 charge sheets against 6 accused for the crimes of cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy. The names of these accused include Aseem Das, Rohit Gulati, Vikas Chhaparia, Anil Dhammani, Vishal Ahuja and Dheeraj Ahuja.
Also read: CBI tightens screws in Mahadev App case, files 6 charge sheets against 6 accused
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