| Shubham Soni allegedly owns the Mahadev Online Book App and had a headline-making claim in 2023 about his connection to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. |
| He is originally from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. |
| Around 2021, Soni relocated to Dubai, UAE, with the intention of expanding his gambling business. |
| In a self-made video from 2023, Soni confessed to owning the Mahadev Online Book App and asserted he paid Rs 508 crore to Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel as protection money. |
| The app works as an umbrella syndicate for illegal betting sites, facilitating activities like creating user IDs, enrolling new users, and money laundering through anonymous bank accounts. |
| Users engage in betting on various activities, including elections, poker, card games, and cricket. |
| According to Soni's video, the app was established in 2021 and he faced legal troubles as his business grew, leading him to pay protection money. |
| Soni associated with Baghel's political advisor Vinod Verma for assistance regarding arrests in Bhilai. |
| Later, Soni expanded his gambling business to Dubai with Baghel's encouragement. |
| Despite Soni's Dubai business doing well, his associates continued to be arrested in Bhilai, prompting interactions with Baghel who allegedly demanded Rs 508 crore. |
| In the recorded video, Soni mentioned feeling trapped in the political system and expressed fear about returning to India. |
| During a press conference, BJP released Soni’s video, which Baghel denied having any involvement in. |
| The Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended Asim Das, a cash courier admitting to delivering large sums to the ruling party in Chhattisgarh for election expenses, recovering Rs 5.39 crore. |
| Aside from Shubham Soni, other key suspects were Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal, the app's promoters. |
| Soni smokes hookah occasionally and has tattoos on both biceps. |
