In the labyrinth of India’s underground economy, where digital innovation meets age-old financial trickery, few figures loom as large as Hari Shankar Tibrewal, the elusive hawala operator accused of masterminding the money laundering arm of the infamous Mahadev betting app scam. As of November 14, 2025, Tibrewal’s whereabouts remain a tantalizing mystery, fueling speculation from Dubai’s opulent towers to hidden safe havens in non-extradition nations. This hawala operator, once a Kolkata-based businessman with a string of resolved legal skirmishes, now stands accused of laundering over Rs 1,186 crore in illicit betting proceeds, making him a pivotal conspirator in one of the country’s largest online gambling frauds. The Mahadev betting app scam, with its tentacles reaching into politics, Bollywood, and stock markets, has captivated the nation since its exposure in 2022, amassing a staggering Rs 6,000 crore in proceeds of crime (POC). But as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) tighten their grip, the question persists: Where is Hari Shankar Tibrewal, the hawala operator who allegedly kept the Mahadev betting app’s financial engine running?
This news analysis article delves into the depths of the Mahadev betting app scam, spotlighting Hari Shankar Tibrewal’s role as the key hawala operator. Drawing from ED press releases, court judgments from the Chhattisgarh High Court and Supreme Court, and recent developments like Ravi Uppal’s dramatic escape from Dubai, we unpack the scam’s intricacies. For those searching “Hari Shankar Tibrewal hawala operator” or “Mahadev betting app scam,” this comprehensive breakdown covers every angle — from the scam’s origins to its current status — revealing how a seemingly innocuous app became a symbol of digital-age crime in India.
To understand the Mahadev betting app scam, one must first unravel the enigma that is Hari Shankar Tibrewal, the hawala operator whose financial acumen allegedly transformed raw betting profits into laundered wealth. Born in Kolkata, West Bengal, Tibrewal’s early life was rooted in the city’s vibrant yet competitive business landscape. While exact details of his birthdate remain obscure — estimates place him in his late 50s or early 60s — Tibrewal grew up in a middle-class family, where he likely learned the ropes of informal trading and finance. Kolkata, with its historic ties to hawala networks (informal value transfer systems originating from South Asia), provided the perfect breeding ground for his future endeavors as a hawala operator.
Tibrewal’s transition from a local businessman to an international hawala operator was gradual but marked by early legal entanglements that hinted at his propensity for financial maneuvering. Court records from the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court reveal a pattern of disputes involving cheating, forgery, and conspiracy — charges that were often resolved through compromises or withdrawals, showcasing his ability to navigate the legal system. For instance, in the Supreme Court Special Leave Petition (Criminal) No. 8015/2014, decided on October 17, 2014, Tibrewal challenged a Calcutta High Court order (CRM No. 7763/2014, July 23, 2014) denying anticipatory bail in a West Bengal case under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using forged document as genuine), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). The Supreme Court, presided over by Justices Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya and S.A. Bobde, dismissed the petition but granted him liberty to apply for regular bail, emphasizing that the trial court should decide uninfluenced by higher court observations. This case stemmed from allegations of financial fraud, a theme that would recur in Tibrewal’s life.
Closer to home, the Punjab and Haryana High Court handled several petitions related to a Haryana FIR No. 76/2012 registered at Police Station Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon, involving similar IPC sections. In CRM-M-37544-2013, decided on November 19, 2014, by Justice M.M.S. Bedi, Tibrewal withdrew his anticipatory bail petition, citing the need to pursue regular bail in a connected Calcutta case. The court allowed the withdrawal without prejudice to his rights. This was followed by CRM-M-18869-2016 on May 26, 2016, where Justice Jaspal Singh directed the Additional Sessions Judge, Gurgaon, to decide Tibrewal’s regular bail application (BA No. 177/2016) within seven days from receipt of the order. The urgency in this directive underscored Tibrewal’s mounting legal pressures.
By October 6, 2016, in CRM-M-34883-2016 (O&M), Justice Jaspal Singh allowed amendments to Tibrewal’s petition, including requests for passport release and permission for foreign travel, indicating his expanding international ambitions. The culmination came in CRM-M-8964-2017 on May 30, 2017, where Justice Surinder Gupta quashed the entire Haryana FIR based on a compromise affidavit from the complainant’s representative, Ravinder Kumar. This quashing, supported by the state and complainant, highlighted Tibrewal’s knack for out-of-court settlements — a tactic that would later serve him in evading deeper scrutiny.
These pre-Mahadev cases portrayed Tibrewal as a resilient hawala operator skilled in forgery and cheating, skills honed in Kolkata’s informal economy. By the early 2020s, he had relocated to Dubai, a global hub for hawala operations, where he allegedly established entities like Zenith Multi Trading DMCC and Tano Investment Opportunities Fund (Mauritius-based) as fronts for money laundering. As a hawala operator, Tibrewal excelled in transferring funds without formal records, using trust-based networks to move billions across borders. His expertise in layering — disguising illicit origins through shell companies and stock investments — made him invaluable to syndicates like Mahadev.
In the Mahadev betting app scam, Tibrewal’s role as hawala operator elevated him to a key conspirator. ED press releases from March 1, 2024, describe him as a “huge hawala operator” who partnered with promoters to launder betting proceeds through SkyExchange, investing in Indian stocks via FPI routes. Securities worth Rs 580.78 crore were frozen, with associates like Suraj Chokhani and Nitin Tibrewal acting as directors in layering firms. Tibrewal’s hawala networks allegedly funded operations, including Sourabh Chandrakar’s extravagant wedding, and facilitated large-scale movements of betting funds.
As of November 14, 2025, Hari Shankar Tibrewal remains a fugitive hawala operator, believed to be in Dubai or a non-extradition jurisdiction. His name, synonymous with “hawala operator Hari Shankar Tibrewal,” continues to trend in searches related to the Mahadev betting app scam, as ED raids and court battles keep his legacy alive. From Kolkata’s alleys to Dubai’s shadows, Tibrewal’s story is one of cunning survival in the world of financial crime.
The Mahadev betting app scam is a chilling exemplar of how technology can amplify age-old vices like gambling into a colossal fraud, ensnaring millions while laundering fortunes through intricate hawala networks. At its essence, the scam revolved around an online platform that promised thrilling bets on sports and events but delivered a web of deception, generating Rs 6,000 crore in illicit profits. Launched in 2018, the Mahadev app — cynically named after Lord Shiva to invoke divine luck — operated as an “umbrella syndicate,” aggregating multiple illegal betting websites under one roof.
Users accessed the app via smartphones or web portals, creating anonymous IDs to wager on live cricket matches (especially IPL), political elections, tennis, football, poker, and even rigged virtual games like “badminton” or “chance.” The app’s allure lay in its seamless interface: Bettors deposited funds through UPI, net banking, or cryptocurrencies, with odds updated in real-time by Dubai-based servers. Winnings were disbursed instantly via hawala or layered bank accounts, evading GST and income tax. The franchise model was the scam’s backbone — promoters sold “panels” or branches to associates for upfront deposits of Rs 15-30 lakh, sharing profits on a 70-30 basis (70% to panel owners). Over 3,200 panels operated nationwide, enrolling 1.2 to 9.9 million users, many from low-income households in Chhattisgarh, where the app originated.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, usage exploded, with daily revenues hitting Rs 200-240 crore. But the real ingenuity was in money laundering. Proceeds were funneled through benami (dummy) bank accounts, siphoned to Dubai via hawala operators like Hari Shankar Tibrewal, and “cleaned” through foreign portfolio investments (FPI) and foreign direct investments (FDI). Shell companies, often fronted by associates, invested in Indian stocks, manipulating prices (pumping small-cap shares like those of Gensol Engineering before dumping them) to generate legitimate-looking returns. This not only laundered money but also inflicted losses on retail investors, drawing scrutiny from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).
The scam’s political dimension added explosive controversy. ED investigations revealed Rs 508 crore allegedly paid to Chhattisgarh’s then-Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel for election expenses in 2023, delivered by couriers like Asim Das (intercepted with Rs 5.39 crore cash on November 3, 2023). Emails from Shubham Soni, a high-ranking accused, detailed these payments, triggering CBI involvement. Bollywood ties further glamorized the fraud: 17 celebrities attended Chandrakar’s Rs 200-250 crore Dubai wedding in February 2023, with performers like Kapil Sharma allegedly paid via hawala.
ED press releases paint a vivid picture. The March 1, 2024, release described Mahadev as a “syndicate arranging online platforms for illegal betting,” with Tibrewal as the hawala operator investing proceeds via FPI. Attachments included Rs 580.78 crore in securities. The November 3, 2023, release highlighted the election funding angle, with Das admitting funds were for “Politician ‘Baghel’.” A protected witness’s statement (Hindustan Times, September 19, 2024) exposed the “cooperative of 7 men” paying Rs 5 lakh bribes to operatives to confess and protect the core group.
The Mahadev betting app scam exploited India’s ambiguous gambling laws (banned in most states but thriving online) and digital anonymity. Variants like Lotus365 and SkyExchange persisted despite blocks, using VPNs and mirror sites. For searchers of “Mahadev betting app scam,” it’s a stark reminder of how hawala operators like Hari Shankar Tibrewal can turn virtual bets into real-world financial havoc, with ripple effects on markets, politics, and society.
The Mahadev betting app scam was no lone wolf operation but a meticulously orchestrated syndicate, helmed by a “cooperative of 7 men” who blended street-smart origins with high-stakes criminality. This group, as unveiled in ED’s supplementary chargesheet and witness testimonies, controlled everything from app development to global laundering. Their strategy: Project Chandrakar and Uppal as the “faces” while the cooperative pulled strings from the shadows, even bribing lower operatives Rs 5 lakh to take the fall. Here’s a detailed look at the key players, their roles, and interconnections, drawing from court documents and ED releases.
Celebs like Sahil Khan (arrested May 2024) promoted the app. The cooperative’s bribe system ensured the Mahadev betting app scam’s longevity, with Hari Shankar Tibrewal as the hawala operator binding it all.
The Mahadev betting app scam’s timeline is a chronicle of ambition, expansion, and eventual unraveling, spanning from local roots to international probes. Here’s a detailed, year-by-year breakdown based on ED press releases, court orders, and investigative reports.
This timeline, from inception to ongoing chases, illustrates the scam’s evolution and authorities’ relentless pursuit.
As of November 14, 2025, the Mahadev betting app scam case is at a critical juncture, with investigations expanding while key fugitives like Hari Shankar Tibrewal remain at large. The ED, leading the charge under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, has filed four-plus prosecution complaints in the Raipur Special PMLA Court, naming 44 accused and attaching POC worth over Rs 2,295 crore. Recent attachments include Rs 388 crore in December 2024, targeting Tibrewal’s FPI and FDI routes, bringing the total seized (cash Rs 417 crore, shares Rs 1,100-1,764 crore) closer to the estimated Rs 6,000 crore scam value.
Arrests stand at 14-plus, with Govind Kedia’s December 6, 2024, custody marking the latest. Supreme Court bails for Suraj Chokhani and Nitin Tibrewal (July 23, 2025) after HC denials highlight prolonged detentions, but others like Girish Talreja remain in judicial custody. The CBI, handling the conspiracy angle, raided 60 locations and named Bhupesh Baghel in an FIR on April 2, 2025, which he challenges as political vendetta.
Court proceedings are active: The Supreme Court’s SLP (Crl) No. 7441/2025 for Ravi Uppal is listed for November 14, following orders on November 4-5 to trace the absconder. Chhattisgarh High Court has dismissed multiple petitions, including CRMP No. 868/2024 (Chokhani, October 4, 2024) and MCRC No. 4950/2025 (Kedia, August 5, 2025), upholding ED’s “reasonable belief” for arrests under PMLA Section 19. SEBI’s parallel probe into stock manipulations (e.g., Gensol Engineering) adds layers, with recent ED raids on Vikas Garg (November 12, 2025) uncovering Rs 40,000 crore in benami laundering linked to Tibrewal’s networks.
Extraditions lag: Sourabh Chandrakar’s UAE house arrest (October 2024) and Uppal’s escape have strained India-UAE ties, with ED seeking Interpol aid. Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) proceedings initiated in October 2024 aim to seize assets. Political probes remain dormant beyond the CBI FIR, with no charges against Baghel in ED complaints. App variants persist online, prompting calls for stricter digital regulations. Overall, the case is ongoing, with ED expanding to FPI fraud and expecting breakthroughs in fugitive traces — a far cry from closure, but justice inches forward.
In the Mahadev betting app scam, the absconding accused form a rogue’s gallery scattered across the globe, testing the limits of international cooperation. As of November 14, 2025, ED and Interpol are on high alert, but these fugitives’ locations remain fluid.
Other cooperative members are similarly hidden, with ED’s Red Notices active. Extraditions hinge on UAE-India ties, strained by Uppal’s escape.
Hari Shankar Tibrewal’s role in the Mahadev betting app scam was nothing short of pivotal — he was the financial alchemist, the hawala operator who transformed volatile betting gains into stable, laundered assets. As one of the “cooperative of 7 men” revealed in a protected witness’s September 2024 statement to the ED, Tibrewal wasn’t a peripheral player but a core architect, leveraging his decades of hawala expertise to sustain the syndicate’s operations.
Tibrewal owned and operated SkyExchange, an illegal betting website seamlessly integrated with the Mahadev platform. This allowed him to funnel betting proceeds directly into his laundering machine. ED investigations, as detailed in the March 1, 2024, press release, show he invested these funds in the Indian stock market via Dubai-based entities, using Foreign Portfolio Investment (FPI) routes. Securities holdings worth Rs 580.78 crore in entities beneficially owned by Tibrewal were frozen under PMLA Section 17. He employed associates like Suraj Chokhani and Nitin Tibrewal as directors in shell companies (e.g., Ability Games, Brilliant Investment Consultants), collecting cash entries against bank transfers to invest in shares — classic layering to obscure origins.
His hawala networks were the scam’s lifeline, moving large sums offshore to Dubai and beyond. Tibrewal partnered with promoters like Chandrakar and Uppal, facilitating Rs 1,186 crore in total laundering (Indian stocks Rs 580 crore, FPI Rs 606 crore as of February 2024). He funded extravagant events, including Chandrakar’s Rs 200-250 crore wedding in February 2023, using hawala to pay vendors and celebrities. ED searches (February 28-29, 2024) at Tibrewal’s Kolkata associates uncovered majority sources as cash-backed bank entries, utilized for stock portfolios.
Tibrewal’s pre-scam past (quashed FIRs like Haryana 76/2012) equipped him for market manipulations, such as pumping Gensol Engineering shares before dumps, harming retail investors. Recent ED attachments (Rs 388 crore, December 7-8, 2024) and raids on Vikas Garg (November 12, 2025) link him to broader Rs 40,000 crore benami frauds. As hawala operator, Tibrewal ensured anonymity, making the Mahadev betting app scam resilient until ED cracked the cooperative.
The legal net around the Mahadev betting app scam is vast, encompassing PMLA money laundering, IPC conspiracy, and SEBI stock fraud cases. Here’s a breakdown:
Cases total 6+ FIRs/ECIRs; trials ongoing, with focus on fugitives.
The accused’s pasts are a mosaic of ordinary lives twisted by greed:
These backgrounds fueled a scam blending street smarts with tech.
In conclusion, as the hunt for Hari Shankar Tibrewal, the hawala operator behind the Mahadev betting app scam, intensifies, the case serves as a stark warning. With fugitives like Uppal vanishing and probes expanding, justice may yet prevail — but Tibrewal’s location remains the million-dollar question.
Disclaimer: This Article of Inventiva is based on press release of ED on 1st March 2024 where Enforcement Directorate has itself called Hari Shankar Tibrewal as Hawala Operator.
Kindly refer to the ED press release on the below link
