Mahadev Betting app scam: Enforcement Directorate probes EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti, says report

Mahadev Betting app scam: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the travel firm EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti. Pitti has been accused of being aware of Sky Exchange's activities, an illegal betting platform linked to the Mahadev app, reported the Economic Times.

Allegations against EaseMyTrip CEO Nishant Pitti

EaseMyTrip made payments to two shell firms connected to Sky Exchange in 2021—Nischay Trading Pvt Ltd and Silvertoss Shoppers Pvt Ltd, the ED has alleged. Shell companies are businesses that remain only on paper and are often used to conceal the movement of money. ED confiscated ₹7 lakh in cash from Pitti's residence during a raid in April, according to the ET report.

The ED suspects that the money may be linked to the proceeds of crime and is considering the possibility that it could be associated with Sky Exchange's illegal activities. Pitti is accused of having connections with an operator who worked alongside company promoters to manipulate stock prices.

This manipulation allegedly occurred by obtaining beneficial shareholding information (Benpos) from the promoters. The report stated that such access to information before quarterly disclosures provided an opportunity for trading based on insider knowledge.

The data recovered from the laptop of Prashant Bagri, who is connected to the scam, reveals that Pitti was listed as an agent for Sky Exchange. Bagri also allegedly told investigators that he was in frequent contact with Pitti regarding his firm’s Benpos.

The ED's investigation further states that individuals involved in the betting scam allegedly approached promoters from 25 listed companies, using illegal funds totalling ₹350 crore to manipulate stock prices. 

EasyMyTrip's Response

The online travel bookings firm responded to the allegations made in connection with CEO Nishant Pitti. They said that the claims on Nishant Pitti being aware of the “Mahadev app betting case” are “entirely baseless, misleading, and devoid of factual merit.”

“We categorically and unequivocally deny the allegations reported in connection with our Founder and Chairman, Mr. Nishant Pitti, concerning the so-called Mahadev app betting case. These claims are entirely baseless, misleading, and devoid of factual merit,” said the company in an official statement.

“Mr. Pitti has had no involvement, direct or indirect, with any illegal betting operations or entities related to the Mahadev app. EaseMyTrip, as an organization, upholds the highest standards of corporate governance and full compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. We take these allegations seriously and are fully cooperating with the authorities to ensure that the facts are established transparently and expeditiously,” they said.

“To clarify, the two entities independently purchased EaseMyTrip shares through the open market in May 2021. Dividends of around ₹5 lakhs were paid to them in the normal course in December 2021, as per shareholder rights. There has been no other transaction or association with these entities,” according to EaseMyTrip.

Pitti reacts

“I don’t know this person, and we haven’t made any payments to these companies since 2017. I’ve never even heard of these names before. There are eight earning members in my family. We’ve filed income tax returns of over ₹1,000 crore, and our declared cash holdings are more than ₹70 lakh. The ₹7 lakh that was found is part of that declared amount,” the report quoted him as saying.

Pitti earlier denied connection with the Mahadev app or any other betting app after the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in over 50 locations, comprising its Gurugram office.

On 17 April, the company stated in an exchange filing, “While EaseMyTrip has no direct or indirect association with the Mahadev Betting App or any other betting platform, we remain fully committed to cooperating with the authorities throughout the course of the investigation."

It is important to note that these are merely allegations made by the investigating agency and must be validated through judicial proceedings.