Baghel writes to PM Modi, seeks total ban on betting apps across platforms

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a complete ban on Mahadev Online Book-like applications on all platforms.

In his letter to the prime minister on Friday, the chief minister said in recent times, illegal gambling and betting businesses have expanded nationwide through online betting and gaming, and their operators and owners have been running the businesses from overseas.

Baghel highlighted that the Chhattisgarh government and state police have been taking strict action since the beginning in relation to such illegal businesses.

"Success has been achieved in registering various crimes in this regard, arresting the accused involved and confiscating assets. More than 90 criminal cases in this regard since March 2022 have been registered by Chhattisgarh Police in which more than 450 accused have been arrested. Around Rs 16 crore have been frozen in bank accounts, many laptops, mobiles have been seized," he said, adding that look out circulars have been issued against several accused and the state police has taken action in many other states too.

Baghel also pointed out that the state police has written to the electronic and information technology ministry to ban and disable 80 platform, URLs, links, and apps. "Through correspondence with Google, 'Mahadev App' involved in this illegal business has been removed from the play store," the chief minister said.

Recently, 22 illegal betting apps and websites including Mahadev Book have been banned by the ministry of electronics and information technology.

"But it is to be noted that this illegal business is being carried out through many international or domestic mobile numbers, mail IDs, Telegram, WhatsApp, URLs, Instagram, .apk files etc," Baghel said. "Therefore, it would be advisable to verify the international/domestic mobile numbers, mail IDs, Telegram, WhatsApp, URLs, Instagram, by establishing sure identity of files etc. all these should be banned."

The chief minister said since the criminal activities of people running online betting or gambling businesses have expanded to international markets, they are committing their crimes by using modern information technology techniques and platforms.

Baghel said through investigations conducted so far, the entire functioning of these illegal business operators has come to the notice of the agencies, and there is a strong need to take preventive measures at every level to stop their businesses, and the illegal operation of bank accounts.

"Steps should be taken to prevent this, which can be done at the central level. It has become inevitable that the Central government should take appropriate action in this direction using its powers and impose a complete ban on them so that crores of people of the country can be saved from getting trapped in the clutches of this illegal business," Baghel added.