CBI Raids 60 Locations Linked to Mahadev Betting Scam; Ex-Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel, Bureaucrats & Senior IPS Officers Under Scanner

Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday carried out extensive searches at 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi as part of its probe into the Mahadev Online Book betting network.The searches were carried out at the premises of politicians, senior bureaucrats, police officers, and key functionaries of Mahadev Book, and other private individuals suspected of involvement in the case

According to CBI officials, searches led to the seizure of incriminating digital and documentary evidence, which is now being examined as part of the investigation.

Among those under the scanner, searches were conducted at the premises of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, his close aides, and senior IPS officers who are suspected of shielding the Mahadev betting network.

In Chhattisgarh, the CBI targeted the premises of Baghel, close aids Congress leader Devendra Yadav,and senior IPS officers ASP Sanjay Dhruv, SP Arif Sheikh, Abhishek Pallav, and Prashant Agrawal, as well as accused constable Sahdev and an individual named Nakul.

Bhupesh Baghel Reacts To CBI Raids

CBI teams reached at Baghel’s residences in Raipur and Bhilai hours before he was scheduled to leave for a meeting at the Congress Headquarters in Delhi. Reacting to the raids, Baghel’s office took to X (formerly Twitter), stating, "Now CBI has come. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to go to Delhi today for the meeting of the Drafting Committee constituted for the AICC meeting in Ahmedabad on April 8 and 9. Even before that, CBI has reached Raipur and Bhilai residence."

The case revolves around the illegal operations of Mahadev Online Book, an online betting platform promoted by Dubai-based Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. According to an official CBI statement, the duo, currently based in Dubai, allegedly paid hefty sums as "protection money" to public servants to ensure the uninterrupted operation of their illegal betting empire.

The CBI has taken over the Mahadev Online Book betting scam following a request from the Chhattisgarh government in August 2024. The agency has re-registered and consolidated 77 FIRs, including one naming former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as an accused.The probe aims to uncover the role of senior public officials and other individuals linked to the illegal betting network.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing the case, has estimated that the Mahadev Online Book promoters generated over ₹6,000 crore in illegal proceeds. As of December 2024, the ED has attached assets worth ₹2,295.61 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

CBI is currently conducting search operations at the residences of senior IPS officers accused of providing direct or indirect protection to the Mahadev betting network. The Free Press Journal has accessed the statement of arrested accused Chandra Bhushan Verma, an assistant sub-inspector in the State Intelligence Bureau, who disclosed that Mahadev app promoters, Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, paid protection money to top police officials, administrative officers, and politicians to evade legal action. Verma allegedly played a key role in transferring these funds through the hawala network. According to his statement to ED, senior officials in Chhattisgarh received monthly payments from November-December 2021 to June 2023.

According to Verma’s statement, senior officials in Chhattisgarh allegedly received monthly payments from November-December 2021 to June 2023. He also played a key role in transferring these funds through the hawala network.