Centre Bans 22 Illegal Betting Apps Including Mahadev Book

The contentious Mahadev Book is one of 22 illicit betting apps that the Central government has outlawed. In a Sunday order, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology blocked 22 websites and apps related to illegal betting, such as Reddyannaprestopro and Mahadev Book. On the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) recommendation, the Ministry took the action. Following an investigation and subsequent raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, the ED recommended to the Center that illegal betting apps be restricted.

“ED made the recommendation and the Ministry blocked the betting app after its investigations exposed the app’s illicit activities. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics & Information Technology and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, stated that the Chhattisgarh government has not yet made any recommendations in this area.

Bhim Singh Yadav, a Chhattisgarh Police Constable, and Asim Das have been taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on allegations of money laundering. The Congress charged earlier in the day that the Centre was targeting the Chhattisgarh government with the intent of using ED to influence the state’s Assembly elections.