CBI Raids Former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel in ₹6,000 Crore Mahadev Betting Scam

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out raids in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday, including at the residence of former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, as part of its probe into the ₹6,000 crore Mahadev online betting scam. The agency, which took over the case two months ago, is investigating an alleged larger conspiracy behind the illegal betting operations.

The CBI consolidated 77 FIRs from multiple police stations and the state’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW) before registering a formal case in January. Baghel, along with Mahadev app founders Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal—who are currently fugitives in the UAE—was named in a Chhattisgarh Police FIR filed on March 4, 2024.

Baghel has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, claiming that his name was politically motivated and forcefully included in the probe by the ruling BJP government. The case was initially investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which alleged that bribes worth ₹508 crore were paid to Baghel by the betting syndicate.

The Chhattisgarh government had recommended a CBI inquiry in August 2024, after the BJP came to power, and the agency spent several months compiling legal documents before launching its investigation. The ED’s probe has revealed that the Mahadev app syndicate, active since 2018, facilitated illegal bets on sports, card games, and even elections. Operating from Dubai, the platform allegedly generated ₹240 crore daily and employed over 3,500 people.

Authorities have so far attached assets worth ₹2,426 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as investigations continue.