Tamannaah Bhatia Faces ED Interrogation Over Mahadev Betting App: Uncovering the Money Laundering Case Behind the Scandal
Actress Tamannaah Bhatia’s troubles have escalated as her name has surfaced in connection with the Mahadev betting app. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated her on Thursday. In this case, Tamannaah Bhatia is not being accused but was questioned regarding her promotion of the app.
ED Interrogates Tamannaah Bhatia in HPZ App Scam
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Tamannaah Bhatia for questioning related to the HPZ app scam. When Tamannaah arrived at the ED office in Guwahati, her mother accompanied her. The app is accused of defrauding millions by promising investors ₹4,000 daily returns on a ₹57,000 investment.
To carry out this fraud, fake accounts were opened in the names of shell companies across various banks, allowing funds to be transferred from investors. Some stars associated with the Mahadev app are also linked to HPZ. Allegedly, the actress promoted the app during IPL matches on a fair play betting platform.
Understand the Entire Matter
This case of illegal streaming dates back to September 2023 when Viacom filed a complaint alleging that the ‘Fair Play’ app violated their Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Viacom Networks had purchased the broadcasting rights for the IPL at a high bid, but the app was illegally streaming the matches, reportedly causing Viacom Networks a loss of over ₹100 crore.
Following the FIR, many prominent figures in the entertainment industry, including Tamannaah Bhatia, Badshah, and Jacqueline Fernandez, were interrogated.
What is Tamannaah’s Connection to the Mahadev Betting App?
The parent company of the ‘Fair Play’ app is the Mahadev betting app, which operates through multiple websites. This is a betting platform where people invest money to earn profits.
The website allows investments in sports such as poker, cricket, badminton, and football in India, which can be classified as online gambling. The headquarters of this betting app is located in the UAE.
Mahadev Betting App and Bollywood
The Mahadev betting app was launched by Saurabh Chandrakar in 2019. Interestingly, Saurabh, who has built an illegal betting empire worth thousands of crores, previously ran a small juice shop in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. In 2017, he collaborated with an individual named Ravi Uppal to create the website, and gradually, people began to embrace this online gambling platform.
In 2019, Saurabh moved to Dubai and started operating the network from there. Last year, he had a grand wedding in Dubai, inviting around 17 Bollywood celebrities via a chartered plane, where he also performed on stage. It is alleged that in exchange for this performance, he was not only paid millions in fees but also requested many Bollywood artists to support his Mahadev betting app.
