Chhattisgarh: CBI Raids Former CM Bhupesh Baghel, IPS Officers In Mahadev Betting App Probe

Raipur: The CBI has raided 60 locations across Chhattisgarh, Bhopal, Kolkata, and Delhi in connection with the Mahadev Satta App scam, targeting former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, MLA Devendra Yadav, seven police officers, and several IAS officials.

The Mahadev Book Online Betting Scam, run by Dubai-based promoters Ravi Uppal and Saurabh Chandrakar, allegedly involved large payouts to public servants as "security money" to ensure the illegal betting network's smooth operation. Initially investigated by Raipur’s Economic Offenses Wing (EOW), the case was later handed over to the CBI for a deeper probe into senior officials' involvement.

During the searches, the CBI seized digital and documentary evidence. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier claimed that its probe exposed the role of several Chhattisgarh politicians and bureaucrats. On the ED’s request, Interpol issued a Red Notice, leading to the detention of the app’s promoters in Dubai. The estimated crime proceeds in this case stand at ₹6,000 crore.

Raids were conducted at Baghel’s government residence in Raipur and private home in Bhilai, focusing on the Mahadev Satta case and coal scam.

The CBI also searched the residences of several close associates, including MLA Devendra Yadav, former IAS Anil Tuteja, and IPS officers Abhishek Pallav, Arif Sheikh, and Anand Chhabra. Additional searches were carried out at the homes of police officers Prashant Aggarwal, Sanjay Dhruv, TI Girish Tiwari, former OSD Ashish Verma, Manish Banchor, Soumya Chaurasia, and KPS School Director Nishant Tripathi.

The raids coincided with Baghel’s scheduled attendance at an AICC meeting in Ahmedabad. The investigation remains ongoing, with further developments anticipated.