Illegal betting app Mahadev Online Book, along with 21 other software and websites, was banned by the government on Sunday.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued directives to block access to 22 unauthorized betting platforms, including Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro.
This crackdown was prompted by ED investigations into an illegal betting app syndicate, followed by subsequent raids on Mahadev Book's operations in Chhattisgarh, which exposed their unlawful activities. The culprits behind this operation, Bhim Singh Yadav, who was a constable in the Chhattisgarh Police, and Asim Das, have been apprehended and are currently in custody, charged under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, pointed out that while the Chhattisgarh government had the authority to recommend the shutdown of such websites or apps under Section 69A of the IT Act, they failed to do so during their 1.5-year-long investigation. The only request to act came from the ED, which the government promptly executed. He emphasized that there were no hindrances preventing the Chhattisgarh government from making similar requests.
Interestingly, the government's actions coincided with an accused individual associated with the Mahadev app, who, in a video statement, claimed that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel had encouraged him to travel to the UAE.
(With agency inputs)
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