The Enforcement Directorate is probing Bollywood celebrities who attended Sourabh Chandrakar’s 2023 wedding in Dubai. The agency said the Rs 200 crore event used hawala money to pay for performers and private jets. Many stars, including Tiger Shroff and Neha Kakkar, got caught in the scanner for their alleged involvement.
Sourabh Chandrakar's extravagant 2023 Dubai wedding, reportedly costing Rs 200 crore, is back in focus amid the ED's money laundering probe and allegations of hawala-funded payments.
The lavish Dubai wedding of Mahadev Online Book betting app promoter Sourabh Chandrakar, which made headlines in 2023, has once again drawn attention to the Bollywood celebrities reportedly associated with the extravagant celebration. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating the alleged money laundering network linked to the betting platform, had flagged the wedding over its staggering expenditure and the alleged use of illegal channels to fund the festivities.
Chandrakar tied the knot in February 2023 in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE. According to the ED, approximately Rs 200 crore was spent on the wedding, with a significant portion of the expenditure allegedly routed through hawala transactions. The scale of the celebrations was such that private jets were reportedly hired to ferry family members from Nagpur to the UAE, while celebrities, dancers, decorators and wedding planners were brought in from Mumbai.
Rs 112 Crore Allegedly Routed Through Hawala
According to the ED's September 15, 2023 press release, digital evidence gathered during the investigation allegedly revealed that Rs 112 crore was delivered through hawala channels to Mumbai-based event management company R-1 Events Pvt Ltd, owned by Yogesh Popat.
The agency further claimed that hotel bookings worth Rs 42 crore were paid for in cash in UAE dirhams. Private jets were reportedly arranged for transporting family members, while several event professionals were flown in from Mumbai to organise the celebrations.
The ED also conducted searches at the premises of event organisers and other individuals allegedly connected to the arrangements. It subsequently reported recovering unaccounted cash worth Rs 2.37 crore during searches linked to the alleged hawala network.
Tiger Shroff, Sunny Leone, Neha Kakkar: Celebrities Who Allegedly Attended
The wedding's Bollywood connection became a major talking point after reports identified several prominent actors, singers and television personalities who were allegedly present at the celebrations. According to an India Today report citing ED sources, the guest and performer list included Tiger Shroff, Sunny Leone, Neha Kakkar, Vishal Dadlani, Atif Aslam, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Ali Asgar, Elli AvrRam, Bharti Singh, Bhagyashree, Kriti Kharbanda, Nushrratt Bharuccha and Krushna Abhishek. Popular singers, including Neha Kakkar, reportedly performed at the wedding. Videos purportedly showing celebrities participating in the celebrations also surfaced, bringing further attention to the high-profile guest list.
Why Did The Celebrities Come Under The ED Scanner?
The reported presence of celebrities at the wedding became significant because investigators were examining whether payments made to performers and other participants were connected to the alleged proceeds of the Mahadev betting operation. According to reports, celebrities were allegedly hired through a Mumbai-based event management company and paid for their appearances and performances. The ED was examining the financial transactions associated with the event as part of its wider investigation.
The Mahadev betting app investigation concerns its alleged network of illegal online betting operations and money laundering. Chandrakar and fellow promoter Ravi Uppal were identified by the ED as key figures in the operation.