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Saturday,07-June-2025

Crime

Mahadev Betting App Case: Saurabh Chandrakar Issues Statement Through PR Agency, Denies ED’s Allegations

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In the Mahadev betting app case, the absconding accused, Saurabh Chandrakar, issued a statement on Monday night through a PR agency, denying all the allegations made against him by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). 

According to him, he is neither a promoter, director, nor the founder of the Mahadev app. He also denied his involvement in 60 illicit offshore platforms. He identified himself as an entrepreneur from Bhilai and said he was ready to cooperate with the ED.

Chandrakar planning to flee: ED

According to sources in the ED, Chandrakar is trying to mislead the issue and is currently planning to leave the UAE for some undisclosed destination. The sources said they have all the evidence against his illegal betting business and hawala operations from which he has established a Rs 5,000 crore empire. The sources asked if he was willing to cooperate, why is not joining the investigation?

According to an ED investigation, Rs 200 crore was spent on his wedding in Dubai in February 2023 and a host of Bollywood celebrities took part in the bash. Chandrakar said he spent about  Dirham 10 million which was raised through his internal accruals and savings. “Meticulously documented records substantiating the sources of his income are available, and spending Rs 200 crore  in cash is actually not practical,” he added.

Concerning the presence of celebrities at the event, Chandrakar contends that their involvement was greatly exaggerated. He asserts that all the celebrities in attendance were engaged through an event management company, which facilitated their participation. Furthermore, he denied any hawala payments, stating that all artistes were exclusively hired by the company to attend and perform at the event and there were no direct financial transactions between himself and the celebrities. He claimed that the event management company had made payments to all celebrities through regular banking channels.

‘Never traveled to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal’: Chandrakar

Chandrakar denied any operations in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, or Nepal. He asserts that he has never traveled to these countries.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids at multiple locations in Bhilai involving close associates of Chandrakar and his associate Ravi Uppal on Monday and Tuesday. The ED team conducted searches at the premises of Deepak Savlani, who was an alleged partner in Saurabh Chandrakar’s ‘Juice Factory’. Savlani’s statement was also recorded.  Savlani claimed to be a contractor working for the Bhilai Nagar Nigam. 

Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate team visited the close relatives of Ravi Uppal, including one  Prerna Uppal. According to ED officials, they learned from neighbors that the house has been closed for the past year.

Crime

Man who issued death threat to Delhi CM Gupta, arrested from Ghaziabad

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New Delhi, June 7: A man who issued a death threat to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been arrested by a team from the North-West District Special Staff of the Delhi Police.

The accused was apprehended from Ghaziabad following swift investigative efforts after the threatening call was made late on Thursday night.

According to police officials, the threat call was made to the Ghaziabad Police Control Room (PCR) while the accused was allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

Shortly after the threat was received, the Delhi Police Control Room was alerted, and the matter was escalated due to the high-profile nature of the target.

Investigators identified the caller and tracked his location, but by the time authorities reached the source, the suspect had switched off his mobile phone.

After intensive tracing efforts, the Special Staff managed to arrest him from a hideout in Ghaziabad.

Preliminary interrogation has revealed that the accused is a law graduate (LLB), who had been facing personal turmoil due to a troubled marriage. His wife had recently left him, which reportedly pushed him into emotional distress.

Before making the death threat, he had placed another call in which he demanded to speak to his wife, police said.

Interestingly, the accused was found in possession of fake identification cards that appeared to be police credentials, raising suspicions that he may have attempted to impersonate law enforcement personnel.

Officers stated that he repeatedly tried to mislead the police during questioning.

“Assessment of the threat perception of VIPs or VVIPs is conducted by security agencies on the direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA),” a senior Delhi Police officer said.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta is entitled to Z-category security under the standard protocol. Security agencies are expected to reassess her security cover following this incident, officials confirmed.

Police are continuing their investigation to determine whether the accused has any prior criminal history or links to other disruptive activities.

Authorities have also launched a separate enquiry into the use of forged police IDs found in his possession.

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Crime

Five fined for intrusion in Gir’s protected zone

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Ahmedabad, June 6: The Forest Department in Gujarat has taken action against five individuals caught attempting to spot lions illegally in the Kodiya Vedma area of the Khambha Tulsishyam range in Dhari Gir East.

According to officials, forest patrol teams intercepted a car late at night on June 5 in the protected Kodiya VD zone.

The group, which included two individuals from Bhavnagar and three from Khambha, had entered the restricted area without permission in an attempt to sight lions.

Acting under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Department imposed a fine of Rs 90,000 on the offenders. A formal case has also been registered against them.

Illegal lion sightings in the Gir forest region have become a growing concern, with such intrusions not only endangering wildlife but also violating the core principles of conservation.

Officials warned that strict legal and financial penalties will continue to be enforced against anyone disrupting the natural habitat or endangering the safety of both animals and people.

The Forest Department has reiterated its appeal to the public to avoid unauthorised wildlife excursions and support the ongoing efforts to protect the Asiatic lion population in the Gir forest. Illegal lion sightings and unauthorised safaris have become an increasing concern in Gujarat, particularly in and around the Gir National Park – the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions.

Over the past few years, forest officials have recorded multiple incidents of individuals and groups entering restricted areas for lion sightings, often during late hours and without permits.

In January 2023, eight people were caught conducting an illegal lion show in the Babariya range of Gir West and were fined a total of Rs 1.2 lakh under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

In another case from February 2022, a group of tourists from Surat was booked for entering a protected forest zone in the Amreli district and attempting to provoke a pride of lions for social media videos.

Similarly, in 2021, a local in Junagadh was arrested for organising a paid “lion show” for private guests, a case that led to increased surveillance by the Forest Department.

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Crime

Stampede case: RCB Marketing Head, DNA staffers among four held in Bengaluru

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Bengaluru, June 6: Four people, including the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Marketing Head and DNA Event Management Company staffers, were arrested on Friday in connection with the stampede near the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru that claimed 11 lives.

Nikhil Sosale, Head of Marketing for RCB, along with Sunil Matthew, Kiran, and Sumanth from DNA Event Management, have been arrested, according to the police.

Police said the accused have been arrested in a joint operation at the Bengaluru International Airport.

The police have also raided the residences of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Secretary Shankar and KSCA Treasurer Jayaram.

The personnel of the Cubbon Park police, who have registered the case in this regard and the special wing of the Central Crime Branch (CCB) conducted the joint operation.

The arrested individuals were on their way to Mumbai. All four accused have been brought to the Cubbon Park Police Station, where they were being interrogated by Seshadripuram Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

Even after the permission for the victory parade was not given, Sosle posted a message on social media about the victory parade and later deleted it, the police said.

He also announced that free tickets are available at the Stadium for the victory celebration event.

He allegedly further announced that the tickets would be available at Gate numbers 9 and 10 at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, and did not make arrangements to distribute the tickets.

The post was also made on the Royal Challengers’ official handle that the entry will be given at 3 p.m. This post has led to the gathering of lakhs of people, police said.

The DNA Company has acted as per the directions of Sosle. Among the total 21 gates, only three gates were opened, creating chaos.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday announced the suspension of five senior police officers, including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and DCP (Central Division), in connection with the stampede incident on June 4.

“Such an incident has not occurred since I became an MLA, minister, Dy CM, and Chief Minister. This incident has deeply saddened us,” he stated.

The Karnataka Police in the FIR claimed that the accused parties — RCB franchise, DNA event management firm, and the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) Administrative Committee — organised the victory celebration without the necessary permissions.

The FIR has been registered under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 118(1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by using dangerous weapons or means), 118(2) read with Section 3(5) (voluntarily causing grievous hurt, when the act is done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 190 (unlawful assembly), 132 (criminal force to deter a public servant), 125(a) (filing false affidavit), and 125(b) (rash and negligent acts that endanger human life) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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