The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has brought Sourabh Chandrakar, alleged mastermind and promoter of the Mahadev online betting app syndicate, back to India from Oman following his extradition, marking a major development in the investigation into an alleged illegal betting and money-laundering network involving thousands of crores of rupees.
A CBI team travelled to Muscat and escorted Chandrakar to India after Omani authorities approved his extradition request. He will undergo a medical examination before being taken to Raipur after the agency obtains transit remand. He is scheduled to be produced before a special CBI court in the Chhattisgarh capital on Monday.
Chandrakar is wanted in two cases being investigated by the CBI, in which chargesheets have already been filed. He is also an accused in a separate money-laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has filed a prosecution complaint against him.
๐๐ฒ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ก๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ
According to the CBI, Chandrakar was traced and detained by the Royal Oman Police following an Interpol Red Notice issued against him in connection with the alleged betting syndicate.
Following his detention, the CBI and ED submitted formal extradition requests to Oman, supported by evidence gathered during their investigations. The process involved coordination among Indian government agencies, Interpol's National Central Bureau and the competent authorities in Oman.
Once the extradition request was approved, a CBI team travelled to Muscat to complete the necessary formalities and bring Chandrakar back to India.
The agency thanked the Omani government and the Royal Oman Police for their cooperation, describing the development as an example of bilateral coordination in tackling transnational organised crime.
Chandrakar had earlier been detained in Dubai in 2024 but was subsequently released. Indian authorities renewed efforts to secure his custody after he was traced to Oman earlier this year.
๐๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ป๐ฒ๐๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ
The Mahadev Online Book case concerns an alleged illegal betting operation that investigators say was managed from outside India through a network of associates and franchise operators.
Chandrakar and co-founder Ravi Uppal are accused of establishing and operating the platform, which allegedly facilitated betting on cricket, football, card games and other events.
Investigators estimate that the syndicate generated proceeds running into thousands of crores of rupees, with the alleged money-laundering operation valued at around Rs 6,000 crore.
According to the investigating agencies, the platform operated through a franchise-based system of panels and branches spread across India. These outlets allegedly registered customers, collected bets and handled payments on behalf of the syndicate.
The money collected was allegedly transferred through multiple bank accounts, including accounts opened or operated on behalf of other individuals, before being routed through layered financial transactions.
Investigators suspect that substantial amounts were eventually transferred abroad through hawala channels to conceal the origin and movement of the funds.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ผ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ด๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ผ๐ณ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐น๐
The CBI took over the investigation into the Mahadev betting app cases following a request from the Chhattisgarh government.
During the investigation, the agency allegedly uncovered evidence suggesting that part of the proceeds from illegal betting operations had been used to make payments to public servants.
Investigators suspect that these payments were intended to secure protection for the syndicate and enable its operators to continue their activities without interference from enforcement agencies.
The CBI has filed chargesheets invoking provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery, and the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act.
Chandrakar has been named among the principal accused in the cases, along with other alleged promoters, panel operators, financial intermediaries and individuals suspected of facilitating the betting network.
The allegations remain subject to judicial examination.
๐๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ๐-๐น๐ฎ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฎ๐ป๐ด๐น๐ฒ
Separately, the Enforcement Directorate is investigating the alleged laundering of proceeds generated through the betting operation.
The agency has attached several properties and other assets in India and abroad that it suspects were acquired using money generated from illegal betting activities.
The ED has also examined the movement of funds through companies, intermediaries and financial accounts allegedly linked to the syndicate.
Earlier this year, the agency disclosed the attachment of assets worth approximately Rs 1,700 crore, largely located in Dubai, as part of its investigation into Chandrakar and entities allegedly associated with him.
The properties identified by investigators reportedly included high-value real estate and other investments suspected to have been purchased using proceeds of crime.
The ED has filed multiple prosecution complaints in the case, naming individuals and entities allegedly involved in the operation and movement of funds.
๐๐ ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฐ๐ผ๐๐ฟ๐
Chandrakar's return follows months of efforts by Indian investigating agencies to secure his custody through international legal channels.
The extradition process had involved requests to foreign authorities and coordination through Interpol after investigators established that key individuals allegedly associated with the betting platform were operating outside India.
His production before the special CBI court in Raipur on Monday will mark the next stage of proceedings against one of the principal accused in the case.
Investigators are expected to pursue further questioning regarding the alleged structure of the betting network, the movement of funds and the involvement of other individuals.
The CBI and ED are continuing their separate investigations into the operation, including efforts to identify additional accused persons and trace assets suspected to have been acquired through illegal betting activities.
Chandrakar and Uppal have previously denied involvement in the alleged betting racket.