ED Questions TV Host Shefali Bagga in Mahadev Betting App Case

Television host Shefali Bagga was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday in Raipur regarding a money laundering investigation linked to the Mahadev online betting app case. Her statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

What Happened

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned television host Shefali Bagga on Thursday in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, in connection with a money laundering probe related to the multi-crore Mahadev online betting app case. Bagga appeared at the ED’s Raipur zonal office, where her statement was recorded under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), according to news agency PTI (Times of India, Indian Express).

Officials indicated that questioning was ongoing as of the time of reporting (Times of India). The ED had previously raided Bagga’s residence in Delhi on May 30, reportedly seizing ₹30 lakh in cash. This amount was allegedly earned through the promotion of betting applications, which are considered illegal in India, according to officials (Times of India, The Print).

Investigators suspect Bagga was the public face for betting applications reportedly operated from Dubai and London (Times of India). The ED has recovered promotional material and social media content where Bagga allegedly promoted betting platforms and offered betting tips to users (Times of India). Her Telegram channel, where similar promotional activities were reportedly conducted, is also being examined by investigators (Times of India).

Key Details

• Shefali Bagga’s statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) (Times of India, Indian Express).
• The ED previously seized ₹30 lakh in cash from Bagga’s Delhi residence during a raid on May 30 (Times of India, The Print).
• Officials allege Ms. Bagga is a close associate of Khanjan (Jagdish Kumar) Thakkar, who is accused of operating and promoting betting apps in India and managing financial operations via hawala channels (Times of India).
• The Mahadev online betting app case involves alleged proceeds of crime amounting to approximately ₹6,000 crore, reportedly linked to senior politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh (Times of India).
• The ED has reportedly attached, seized, or frozen assets valued at around ₹3,800 crore in this case to date (Times of India).
• The agency initiated its investigation based on an FIR filed by the Chhattisgarh Police, alongside additional FIRs from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal police departments (Times of India).
• The betting syndicate, reportedly operating through a franchise-based ‘panel’ network from abroad, allegedly generated over ₹450 crore in proceeds of crime monthly (Times of India).
• The ED alleges that these proceeds were laundered through a multi-layered network involving accommodation entries, shell entities, and layered financial transactions (Times of India).
• So far, the ED has arrested 14 individuals and named 74 entities as accused across five chargesheets filed before a special PMLA court in Raipur (Times of India).
• The special court has taken cognizance of the money laundering offense, and seven provisional attachment orders have been issued (Times of India).

Why It Matters

The ongoing investigation into the Mahadev online betting app highlights regulatory enforcement efforts against illegal online gambling operations and associated money laundering activities within India. The reported involvement of a public figure like Shefali Bagga and the large scale of alleged financial transactions underscore the broad impact and scrutiny facing entities linked to unregulated betting platforms (Times of India).

This case, reportedly involving significant proceeds of crime and multiple arrests, indicates a structured approach by the ED to dismantle sophisticated financial networks that utilize illegal betting to generate and launder illicit funds (Times of India). The alleged use of international operations controlled from Dubai and London, coupled with a national franchise-based network, illustrates the global and distributed nature of such illegal enterprises (Times of India).

Originally reported by Times of India·Published 16 Jul 2026, 16:06