Mumbai Police book Dabur Group honchos in Mahadev betting app scam

Mumbai: After politicians and film personalities, the names of industrialists – Dabur Group Chairman Mohit V. Burman and Director Gaurav V. Burman – have come under the radar of the Mumbai Police probing the Mahadev app betting scam, official sources said here on Tuesday.

The Burman duo - of the famed Ayurvedic giant Dabur Group - has been named in the betting app FIR lodged by the Mumbai Police on November 7, and are among the 31 accused including Bollywood actor Sahil Khan, plus other unknown persons.

The Dabur Group has not reacted on the development so far and despite repeated attempts, no officials were available for comments.

The first complaint was lodged by a social worker Prakash Bankar with Matunga Police who claimed that thousands of people have been cheated of over Rs 15,000-crore through the betting app.

The Matunga Police have registered the FIR invoking various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Gambling Act, the IT Act and further probe in underway, even as many names continue to tumble out.

Simultaneously, the Mahadav app is also being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its widespread influence among politicians, glamour personalities and now even corporates, sending shockwaves in these sectors.

Just ten days ago, acting on the ED's plea, the Centre had blocked 22 illegal betting sites including Mahadev app, which was promoted and run by the Bhilai-based Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, plus other people, and has international links with allegations that huge sums of hush money was being siphoned off through the 'hawala' routes.

The issue first shot into prominence after the ED made a sensational claim that the Mahadev app had allegedly paid more than Rs 500-crore to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

The matter is under investigations in Chhattisgarh currently in the midst of Assembly elections with allegations being hurled by leaders of the ruling Congress and opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.

Besides Sahil Khan, other Bollywood personalities who allegedly used or promoted the Mahadev app are under the scanner of the investigators since the past few weeks.