India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its investigation into the Mahadev online betting app case by provisionally attaching assets valued at Rs 21.45 crore ($2.37m).
The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, following an attachment order issued on 10 January 2026.
According to the ED, the attached assets comprise properties and financial investments allegedly generated from the proceeds of crime linked to unlawful online betting activities.
The investigation centres on an alleged betting syndicate that operated across multiple Indian states, including Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, using digital platforms to facilitate illegal gambling.
The Mahadev betting app case has emerged as one of India’s most prominent illegal online gambling investigations. Authorities allege that the platform functioned through a layered structure involving promoters, panel operators, agents and sub-agents. The ED claims this network enabled large-scale illegal betting while concealing financial flows through shell companies, benami bank accounts and complex transaction layering.
Investigators estimate that between 70% and 75% of the profits generated were routed to the main promoters, with the remainder distributed among lower-level operators and intermediaries.
The probe has also identified the alleged use of forged documents and numerous bank accounts to obscure the origin and movement of funds.
As part of the ongoing investigation, the ED has conducted searches at several locations and traced financial transactions amounting to thousands of crores of rupees.
The latest attachment covers assets belonging to individuals accused of managing betting operations, handling accounts and promoting the Mahadev platform through digital and social media channels.
The agency stated that the attachment is intended to disrupt the financial infrastructure supporting illegal betting networks.
Further asset seizures and legal proceedings are expected as the investigation continues.
The Mahadev case forms part of a wider crackdown on illegal online gambling in India. Recent months have seen similar enforcement actions, including investigations into YouTuber Anurag Dwivedi for allegedly promoting betting platforms, and the seizure of Rs 527 crore from online gaming companies.
The ED has conducted searches across multiple locations and tracked financial trails totaling thousands of crores in connection with the Mahadev investigation
