‘Chhattisgarh Govt Probing For 1.5 Yrs, But...’: Centre As It Blocks Mahadev Book Online, 21 More Betting Apps

Rajeev Chandrasekhar, noted that the Chhattisgarh Government had the authority to recommend the shutdown of websites and apps under Section 69A of the IT Act. However, he pointed out that they had not exercised this authority.

File Photo of Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar

Source : PTI

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has issued blocking orders against 22 illegal betting apps and websites, including Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro. This action comes in response to investigations conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into an illegal betting app syndicate, which subsequently led to raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, exposing the app's unlawful operations, a statement by the ministry informed on Sunday.

As a result of the investigations, the owners of Mahadev Book are currently in custody, having been arrested under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This arrest is based on allegations of money laundering, as per Section 3 of the PMLA, 2002, which is punishable under Section 4 of the same act, the statement mentioned.

Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, noted that the Chhattisgarh Government had the authority to recommend the shutdown of websites and apps under Section 69A of the IT Act. However, he pointed out that the state government had not exercised this authority, and no such request had been made by it, even though they had been investigating the issue for the past 1.5 years.

"Chhattisgarh Government had all the power to recommend shutting down of website/app under Sec 69A IT Act. However, they did not do so and no such request is made by the State Government while they have been investigating it for last 1.5 years," he noted.

"In fact, the first and only request has been received from ED and it has been acted upon. Nothing prevented Chhattisgarh Government from making similar requests," Rajeev Chandrasekhar emphasised, as per the presser.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently made startling allegations related to the Mahadev betting app, suggesting that it had paid approximately Rs. 508 crore to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. These allegations were based on forensic analysis and statements by a 'cash courier', news agency PTI reported.

Asim Das, a 38-year-old individual, was arrested by the ED in Raipur after they found Rs. 5.39 crore in cash in his possession. He was reportedly sent by the app's promoters from the UAE to deliver substantial amounts of cash for the election expenses of the ruling Congress Party, according to PTI.

The allegations have been denied by the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister calling it a "malicious attempt to tarnish" his image. More On It: 'Malicious Attempt To Tarnish My Image': Chhattisgarh CM Bhagel After ED's Claim On Betting App

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