New Delhi: A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned actor Ranbir Kapoor for questioning in connection with the Mahadev betting application money-laundering case, the actor has reportedly sought two weeks’ time to appear before the ED.
According to News 18, the actor’s team reached out to ED and requested two weeks time to appear before the team and the ED has “not confirmed any communication yet”.
As per the report, Ranbir has not been summoned as an accused but just to understand the betting business transactions. “Ranbir Kapoor has been summoned to understand the betting business transactions. At this point, he has not been summoned as accused. His questioning is important to know his knowledge about the money sources he received. It will possibly indicate the plans of the promoters and their association. “Ranbir Kapoor may not be part of conspiracy but very important to understand the scam,” News 18 quoted its source as saying.
Around 14-15 other celebrities and actors are under the ED's scanner in the case and they will also be summoned soon, PTI quoted its source as saying.
The company promoted by Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal was being operated from Dubai. It was allegedly using the online book betting application to enrol new users, create IDs and launder money through a layered web of benami bank accounts, the agency has alleged.
The ED investigation has shown that the Mahadev Online Book App is run from a central head office in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials said. It operates by franchising "Panel/Branches" to their known associates on a 70-30 profit ratio, the agency had said.
Large-scale hawala operations are done to siphon off the proceeds of betting to offshore accounts, it had said.
A huge expenditure in cash has also been incurred in India for advertising of betting websites to attract new users and franchise (panel) seekers, it had said.
The company promoters hail from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh and the Mahadev online book betting application is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites.