The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken movement in opposition to 22 unlawful having a bet apps and web sites following a request via way of means of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) amidst an ongoing research into alleged cash laundering in India.
In April, MeitY added new guidelines below the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) to make sure that best ‘permissible’ on-line real-cash video games ought to function in India. However, the regulatory our bodies to supervise those video games have now no longer been appointed yet.
The listing of blocked apps consists of Mahadev Book, that’s presently below research via way of means of the ED for its alleged involvement in an unlawful having a bet syndicate supplying numerous stay video games, inclusive of poker, cricket, football, badminton, tennis and more.
According to the ED, a ‘coins courier’ announcement brought about the research, alleging that Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel obtained Rs 508 crore ($61m) from the app promoters primarily based totally withinside the UAE.
Union Minister of Chhattisgarh State for Electronics and Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, mentioned that the nation authorities had the authority to advise the shutdown of such web sites or apps below Sec 69A of the IT Act. However, the primary and best request for movement got here from the ED.
In mild of the research, the proprietors of Mahadev Book at the moment are in custody, and a few of the accused are Bhim Singh Yadav, a constable withinside the Chhattisgarh Police Force and Asim Das. They had been arrested below the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for alleged cash laundering offences.
This improvement comes withinside the context of preceding demanding situations confronted via way of means of Indian government in curtailing illicit having a bet and regulating the market. In July 2023, the Goods and Service Tax Council in India determined to impose a 28% items and provider tax on on-line gaming, horseracing and casinos.
The selection to tax skill-primarily based totally and chance-primarily based totally video games alike changed into met with blended reactions. While a few believed it might be a setback for Indian gamers and will result in litigation, others appeared it as a pass to diminish the developing affect of unlawful offshore systems withinside the country.
Additionally, the Indian government had been handling the mission of tackling illicit having a bet sports. In one incident, the Goa police arrested 3 people for his or her alleged involvement in unlawful having a bet sports associated with the World Cup cricket match among India and Afghanistan.