Lucknow
Raipur
In a relentless pursuit against individuals linked to the Mahadev Satta App, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended Abhay Singh and Sanjeev Singh in Lucknow. This move comes in the wake of coordinated efforts by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Chhattisgarh Economic Offences Wing (EOW). Abhay Singh, purportedly the mastermind behind Mahadev Book and various other gaming and betting platforms in India, faces allegations of orchestrating fraudulent schemes amounting to billions. Both Abhay and Sanjeev hail from Deoria.
Operating the intricate network of Mahadev Book is Abhishek, Abhay Singh’s cousin, stationed in Dubai. Shockingly, 4,000 SIM cards were dispatched from India to Dubai under the guise of 32 legitimate businesses. These SIM cards became instrumental in executing the elaborate scam. Astonishingly, an estimated 12,000 individuals were deployed to Dubai to oversee the operations of this fraudulent system.
Exploiting the vulnerable, individuals associated with Mahadev Book would procure SIM cards from impoverished and uneducated individuals. In exchange, they enticed them with a monthly salary of 25,000 rupees, subsequently exploiting these SIM cards in fraudulent activities by transferring them to other companies. Following intensified scrutiny from the ED concerning the Mahadev app, the accused have diversified their operations, delving into multiple gaming and betting apps. These illicit activities include placing millions of rupees in bets on IPL matches, perpetuating financial fraud.
During interrogation by the STF, Abhay Singh disclosed that his cousin, Abhishek Singh, resides in Dubai. In 2021, Abhishek instructed the purchase of SIM cards under the names of economically disadvantaged individuals from their region. Promising a monthly salary of 25,000 rupees and 500 rupees per SIM, Abhishek orchestrated the transfer of these SIM cards from one company to another.
Under Abhay’s directives, companies were registered in his name. An official report has been lodged at the Vibhuti Khand police station regarding this matter. Following intensive questioning by the STF team, 264 SIM cards were confiscated from the suspects. Among these, 138 belong to Vodafone-Idea, and 138 to Airtel. Additionally, 4 mobile phones, 2 PAN cards, 2 Aadhaar cards, a driving license, a car, a chain, a bracelet, along with counterfeit documents, totaling 11,620 rupees, were seized.
Since 2021, 4,000 SIM cards were dispatched to Dubai under the guise of 32 fictitious companies. These SIM cards serve as conduits for fraudulent activities, facilitated through WhatsApp and Telegram groups. As a consequence, bank accounts have been frozen by the Mumbai cyber cell. Legal proceedings have also been initiated against Abhay and Sanjeev in Ballia.
