Ex-R&AW Officer in Pannun Case Now Linked to Mahadev App Associate in Dubai, says Delhi Police
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Fresh developments in a case involving former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer Vikash Yadav — already under the scanner in the alleged assassination plot targeting Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun — have linked him to a key operative of the Mahadev Online Book betting network based in Dubai, according to Delhi Police records, Indian Express Reports.
Yadav, who was named by US authorities in late 2023 as a co-conspirator in the Pannun case, was arrested by the Delhi Police Special Cell on December 18, 2023, in connection with a separate extortion and kidnapping case filed in Rohini. That arrest came just three weeks after his name surfaced in the Pannun investigation.
Case Background: Rohini FIR Leads to New Trail
The Rohini case was initiated after a local businessman accused Yadav of abducting him and demanding money. The FIR linked Yadav to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, one of India’s most notorious organised crime figures.
As per police records, the probe in the Rohini matter took a significant turn on July 1, 2025, when a man identified as Jalaluddin alias Sameer was arrested in Chanakyapuri. According to investigators, Jalaluddin played a central role in the conspiracy.
“Jalaluddin, who was employed with the Mahadev betting app in Dubai, allegedly approached Yadav to kidnap and threaten the complainant over unpaid dues. Yadav, in turn, enlisted his associate Abdullah Khan, a car dealer, and they received Rs 16 lakh through hawala from Jalaluddin,” sources told police.
Mahadev Connection: ED Likely to Be Alerted
Sources confirmed that the Investigating Officer (IO) in the Rohini case may soon alert the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is already probing the Mahadev betting scandal.
The Mahadev Online Book scam involves an alleged Rs 6,000-crore money-laundering racket, run by promoters accused of facilitating illegal online betting through social media and offshore networks. The ED has so far filed two chargesheets in a Chhattisgarh court and conducted several raids in connection with the scam.
This latest link — tying a former R&AW officer and an alleged Mahadev app staffer — could potentially expand the scope of the ED’s investigation into both financial and criminal conspiracies with transnational elements.
Details from the Complainant
According to the FIR, the complainant alleged that during the kidnapping, Yadav told him a “supari” (contract killing) had been ordered by Lawrence Bishnoi at the behest of Dubai-based Jalaluddin.
Despite the victim’s denial of any connection to Bishnoi, Abdullah Khan allegedly threatened him at gunpoint. The complaint further states that Yadav received a call from Jalaluddin during the incident, during which he chillingly remarked that the “first dose of injection” had already been given — implying harm had been inflicted.
The victim also claimed he was struck on the head by Khan and forced to hand over his gold chain and rings. Later, the accused allegedly visited his café and forcibly took cash from the outlet.
Court Proceedings and Bail Conditions
On July 23, 2025, while hearing Jalaluddin’s bail application, Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler imposed strict conditions:
- Jalaluddin must not leave India without prior court permission.
- His passport remains in police custody.
- He is prohibited from tampering with evidence, influencing witnesses, or contacting the complainant in any manner.
All three accused — Yadav, Jalaluddin, and Khan — are currently out on bail. The Delhi Police is now preparing a supplementary chargesheet in the case.
Advocate’s Stand and Threat Allegations
The complainant’s counsel, Rahul Thukral, stated they will oppose Jalaluddin’s bail before the Delhi High Court.
“Even after the FIR was lodged in 2023, threats to the complainant continued. His safety remains at risk as the accused is out on bail,” Thukral said.
A Case at the Intersection of National Security and Organised Crime
The case now sits at the unusual intersection of national security concerns, organised crime, and high-value financial crimes.
Yadav’s alleged involvement in both the Pannun conspiracy and a kidnapping linked to the Mahadev betting network paints a complex picture of overlapping criminal and geopolitical interests.
For investigators, this raises critical questions:
- Could elements within organised crime be leveraging ex-intelligence operatives for cross-border operations?
- How deeply is the Mahadev betting network intertwined with other criminal syndicates operating from Dubai?
Larger Implications for Law Enforcement
With the ED’s ongoing Mahadev probe and US authorities’ interest in the Pannun case, coordination between domestic agencies and international partners will be key.
If confirmed, the link between Jalaluddin’s betting operations and Yadav’s alleged extortion attempt could broaden the scope of ongoing investigations, potentially leading to new arrests or asset seizures in both India and overseas jurisdictions.
The coming months may reveal whether this is an isolated instance of collaboration between such networks — or part of a wider, more organised nexus.
(India CSR)
