ED arrests BJP economic cell convenor Vikas Garg in Mahadev betting case

The money laundering investigation has widened to include alleged financial links, corporate investments and attached assets, as the Enforcement Directorate continues to probe the sprawling Mahadev online betting network.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Vikas Garg, national convenor of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) economic cell, in connection with its ongoing investigation into the Mahadev Online Book/Skyexchange alleged illegal online betting and money laundering case.

According to the agency, Garg was taken into custody on July 8 and is being investigated under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The ED subsequently confirmed the action through an official statement issued on July 10, more than a year after conducting searches at companies linked to him in April 2025.

The agency has provisionally attached assets valued at approximately Rs 940.77 crore, which it alleges represent proceeds of crime generated through illegal betting activities. According to the ED, these assets were routed through entities allegedly owned or controlled by Garg and include residential properties, land parcels, equity shares and other financial securities.

Garg has served as the BJP's Delhi economic cell convenor since August 2024. He is also associated with several listed companies, including Vikas Lifecare Ltd., Vikas Ecotech Ltd., Ebix Ltd. and Ebix Inc.

Probe expands into financial and corporate links

The Mahadev Online Book case has been under investigation since 2022 over allegations that its promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, operated an illegal betting network linked to the Dubai-based Skyexchange platform. Investigators have alleged that proceeds from the betting operations were routed through benami accounts, hawala channels and cryptocurrencies, with portions of the funds allegedly used to manipulate stock prices.

The case gained national prominence in 2023 after the ED alleged that substantial payments had been made to political figures, allegations that have been denied.

According to the agency's March 2026 update, investigators have searched over 175 locations, arrested 13 individuals, chargesheeted 74 accused, and attached or frozen assets worth approximately Rs 4,336 crore in India and overseas.

Reports have also highlighted investments in companies linked to Garg by Dubai-based and Kolkata-based entities that later figured in ED investigations. The agency has examined these financial transactions as part of its broader probe into the alleged money trail. Some individuals named in the investigation have denied the allegations against them, while the ED has not publicly confirmed every aspect of the reported financial links.

Companies deny allegations; matter before legal forums

Companies associated with Garg have disclosed the ED proceedings in regulatory filings while denying involvement in any illegal activities. Vikas Lifecare has maintained that neither the company nor its parent entity benefited from the alleged offences under investigation, despite the attachment of certain immovable properties.

According to reports, Garg has challenged the ED's action before the appellate tribunal under the PMLA. His legal representatives have stated that the matter is sub judice and emphasised that he has not been convicted of any offence.

Political reactions and ongoing international investigation

The arrest has triggered political reactions, with former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel calling for investigations into other individuals whom he alleged should also be examined in connection with the case. He reiterated earlier claims that central agencies had targeted him during the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, allegations that have been part of the wider political debate surrounding the investigation.

Meanwhile, the ED's investigation continues to pursue the alleged masterminds of the betting network. Ravi Uppal, who was earlier detained in the United Arab Emirates, reportedly escaped custody in 2025, while Sourabh Chandrakar was recently detained in Oman. Indian authorities are pursuing legal processes to secure Chandrakar's extradition or deportation as the investigation into one of the country's largest alleged online betting and money laundering cases continues.