Shefali Bagga Surrenders Funds to ED in Mahadev App Investigation

Television sports presenter Shefali Bagga has surrendered ₹1.2 crore to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with her alleged promotion of the Mahadev betting app. This amount represents the remaining sum the ED claims she received for promotional activities related to the platform.

What Happened

Television sports presenter Shefali Bagga, under investigation for her alleged involvement in the Mahadev betting app case, has surrendered ₹1.2 crore to the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This sum constitutes the balance the agency claims she received to promote betting applications on the Mahadev platform, according to the ED (Hindustan Times).

In May, the ED seized ₹30 lakh during searches of Bagga’s residences in Delhi and Mumbai, bringing the total alleged receipt to ₹1.5 crore. The ED asserts this money is part of the proceeds of crime generated by the Mahadev syndicate (Hindustan Times).

Key Details

• Shefali Bagga surrendered ₹1.2 crore to the ED’s Raipur unit (Hindustan Times).
• The ED had previously seized ₹30 lakh from Bagga’s residences (Hindustan Times).
• Bagga provided two demand drafts totaling ₹1.2 crore (€50 lakh and €70 lakh) to the ED (Hindustan Times).
• Bagga’s statements, along with those of her father and brother, were recorded by the ED in July (Hindustan Times).
• Bagga stated her role was limited to unknowingly promoting brands on social media and that she had no further involvement (Hindustan Times). Her statement has been recorded as a “witness statement” (Hindustan Times).
• The Mahadev scam is linked to illegal betting activities reportedly generating ₹75-80,000 crore in proceeds of crime (Hindustan Times).

Why It Matters

The surrender of funds by a public figure in the Mahadev betting app case highlights the ongoing regulatory scrutiny of online betting platforms and their promotional activities within regulated markets. The ED’s investigation extends to numerous celebrities, social media influencers, and sports personalities who allegedly promoted the platform, indicating a broader crackdown on illicit financial flows associated with such operations (Hindustan Times).

The Mahadev platform, operated from Dubai, enabled gambling on various sports and card games. It expanded its network through franchisees and utilized a complex system of benami bank accounts for money laundering, according to the ED (Hindustan Times). The ongoing investigation and the subsequent actions against individuals involved underscore the challenges in controlling illegal online betting and its financial implications.

Originally reported by Hindustan Times·Published 8 Oct 2026, 02:08