Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor, who is currently awaiting the release of Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s Animal, has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in Mahadev Betting scam on October 6. Owners of the Mahadev online betting app are suspected to have links in Pakistan apart from association with local businessmen and hawala operations. Sources in the ED also informed that as many as 17 Bollywood celebrities are under the scanner for attending or performing at Mahadev app co-owner, Sourabh Chandrakar’s wedding in February this year and the company’s success party in September last year.

ED probe suggests that the Brahmastra star was reportedly paid by promoters of Mahadev app in lieu of endorsing their gaming app. The payment made to Ranbir was proceeds of crime. Mahadev app promoters Sourabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal allegedly used betting money to pay celebrities. Ranbir was reportedly amongst the highest-paid celebrities by the app. He also allegedly did social media promotions for the app.

The company, which was running operations from Dubai, was allegedly using the online book betting application to enrol new users, create user IDs and launder money through a layered web of benami bank accounts. The monetary value of the scam is already estimated to have reached Rs 5,000 crore and may rise further as the investigation progresses.

Ranbir Kapoor is all set to play a gangster in Animal, which also stars Rashmika Mandanna, Anil Kapoor and Bobby Deol. Animal marks Ranbir’s second release of the year after Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, and Sandeep Reddy Vanga’s second Bollywood film after Kabir Singh. The film’s teaser has been receiving a thunderous response on the internet and has already garnered more than 34 million views in less than a week.