Center takes action against illegal betting and bans 22 online platforms including Mahadev Book app
New Delhi: In response to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) crackdown on a syndicate of illegal gambling apps and subsequent raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, the Ministry of Electronics and Information
New Delhi: In response to the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) crackdown on a syndicate of illegal gambling apps and subsequent raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken action by blocking 22 illegal gambling apps and websites, including Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro.
Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar informed that blocking orders have been issued after a request was made by the ED, but no such requests have been made by the Chhattisgarh government.
Section 69A of the IT Act used
“The Chhattisgarh government had all the power to recommend shutting down any website or app under Section 69A of the IT Act. However, they have not done so and no such request has been made by the state government even as they have been investigating it for the past year and a half. In fact, ED’s first and only request has been received and acted upon. There was nothing to stop the Chhattisgarh government from making similar requests,” MoS Chandrasekhar said.
Mahadev App Case
The ministry said that the owners of Mahadev Book are currently in custody, having been arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for committing the offense of money laundering under Section 3, punishable and under Section 4 of the PMLA. 2002. Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said on Friday that fresh evidence after a search operation on November 2 had revealed that regular payments have been made in the past and so far, around Rs 508 crore has been paid by Mahadev App Promoters to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
However, CM Baghel has refuted the ED’s claim and said that the BJP wants to contest the upcoming Chhattisgarh polls with the help of its “agencies”.
According to ED, cash courier Asim Das was intercepted by the central agency, who was sent from the UAE to deliver a large amount of cash for the election expenses of the ruling Congress party.
The central agency added that Das confessed that Rs 508 crore has been paid to the Chhattisgarh chief minister by Mahadev App promoters so far, an allegation Baghel denies.
(With input from agencies)