In a stunning development, Ravi Uppal, one of the two alleged masterminds behind the sprawling ₹6,000 crore Mahadev online betting app scandal, has reportedly fled the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is currently untraceable. This dramatic escape deals a significant blow to the Enforcement Directorate‘s (ED) high-profile investigation and turns the ongoing saga into an international manhunt.
Sources close to the investigation confirmed that Uppal, who was detained by Dubai authorities in December 2023 following a Red Corner Notice, has vanished. His disappearance comes just as Indian agencies were finalising his extradition, making the search for the Mahadev betting app promoter Ravi Uppal a top priority once again.
Uppal’s Disappearance: A Major Blow to the ED Probe
Ravi Uppal, along with his partner Sourabh Chandrakar, is accused of building a massive illegal betting empire from their base in Dubai. The Mahadev Online Book app allegedly targeted Indian users, luring them into a web of online gambling on cricket matches, card games, and other activities. The ED alleges this was a sophisticated money laundering and hawala racket that funnelled illicit cash through a complex network of shell companies.
Uppal’s detention in Dubai was hailed as a major breakthrough. His extradition was considered crucial, as his testimony was expected to unravel the entire operational hierarchy, expose the money trail, and potentially implicate high-profile individuals—including Bollywood celebrities and politicians—linked to the app. Now that Ravi Uppal has fled the UAE, serious questions are being raised about how he managed to slip through the cracks while under the watch of local authorities.
Inside the ₹6,000 Crore Mahadev Betting App Scandal
The Mahadev app scandal is a tale of audacious ambition and deep-rooted corruption. Uppal and Chandrakar, who started as small-time operators in Chhattisgarh, allegedly built their multi-crore empire in just a few years. Their lavish lifestyles, highlighted by Chandrakar’s ₹200-crore wedding in the UAE attended by several Bollywood stars, put the entire operation on the ED’s radar.
The investigation also has significant political ramifications, particularly in Chhattisgarh, where the previous Congress government under Bhupesh Baghel faced allegations of receiving protection money from the app promoters. Uppal’s testimony was seen as vital to substantiating these claims, but with him now currently untraceable, a key piece of the puzzle is missing.
The International Hunt for Ravi Uppal
With Uppal now in the wind, Indian agencies are scrambling to reassess their strategy. It is highly likely that a fresh, more stringent Red Corner Notice will be issued as diplomatic channels are activated to track his movements. The primary suspicion is that he may have fled to a country that does not have an extradition treaty with India, making his capture significantly more challenging.
The focus now intensifies on the other co-accused, Sourabh Chandrakar, who is also believed to be in the UAE. The pressure to secure his custody and prevent a similar escape will be immense. For now, Ravi Uppal’s escape has added a frustrating new chapter to the Mahadev betting app saga, reigniting the international chase.
