The government, following an Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigation and raids, has banned 22 illicit betting and gambling applications, including the controversial Mahadev Book Online app. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued the directive based on ED’s probe into the unlawful activities of the Mahadev app.
The ED investigation exposed the Mahadev app’s illegal operations and resulted in the seizure of assets worth Rs 417 crore. Allegations against the company included running unlawful betting activities from Dubai and making substantial earnings, about Rs 450 crore monthly, through a series of online apps.
Notably, there has been criticism towards the Chhattisgarh government for failing to recommend the shutdown of the app under Section 69A of the IT Act despite ongoing investigations over the last 18 months. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, criticized CM Bhupesh Baghel’s alleged inaction, particularly in the run-up to the state elections in December.
This move follows the IT Ministry’s previous orders in March this year, where 138 gambling apps were urgently prohibited. Over the past two years, nearly 400 apps and websites have been banned by the government due to links with China, involvement in money laundering, and inappropriate handling of Indian citizens’ data.
