Goan activist Shreha Dhargalkar blasts Manisha Rani for JDJ 11 “paid appearance”

PANAJI: After Dj Dolly Sinha and actor Rayya Labib, now Goan social worker and women’s rights activist Shreha Dhargalkar has spoken up against Bigg Boss OTT fame Manisha Rani for her association and involvement with illegal online betting companies.

Speaking to a few media persons in Panaji on Thursday, Shreha alleged that Manisha Rani is using illegal funds obtained from the promotion of illegal betting apps and websites like the Mahadev and Khiladi apps.

What is the Mahadev Book or Mahadev App scam?

The gambling app allowed users to bet in real-time on a number of games, including cricket, football, games of skill, etc., eventually making them addicted to online gambling.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations against the money laundering networks linked with the alleged Mahadev Book Online Betting app, which led to the recovery of huge amounts of unaccounted cash. The online betting platform Mahadev Book, operational in India since 2017, was allegedly involved in money laundering, with the Enforcement Directorate accusing the platform of orchestrating match-fixing through its Mahadev and Khiladi apps.

The company has reportedly amassed illicit funds worth over Rs 450 crore ($57 million) with estimates indicating a staggering Rs 5000 crore diverted by the entity in ‘hawala transactions’ to tax free locales abroad. The app, now blocked by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity), was allegedly overseen by individuals based in Dubai — Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal who are allegedly the main conspirators in the money laundering game.

Hundreds of social media influencers across the country like Manisha Rani were roped in to promote the platforms and drive millions of viewers or eyeballs to the digital properties.

Shreha Dhargalkar hit out at Manisha Rani for using short-cut routes to fame and wealth without bothering to verify the legality and authenticity of the promoters and the end result of the illegal operations.