Key Suspect in Mahadev Betting Scandal Brought to Raipur for Court Appearance

Raipur, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Saurabh Chandrakar, the main suspect in the Mahadev online betting scandal, was brought to Raipur by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team on Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear in a special CBI court on Wednesday. Chandrakar faces allegations related to a betting network worth approximately ₹6,000 crore. He arrived in Raipur on flight E6 2307.

Previously, he was presented in Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court after being extradited from Oman. The principal district and sessions judge, Nikhil Chopra, granted the CBI a two-day transit remand, instructing that Chandrakar be produced before the Raipur court by November 4, 2026.

Chandrakar had been on the run since investigations intensified. He lived in Dubai since 2023 and was subject to an Interpol Red Corner Notice. To evade arrest, he allegedly used fake identity documents, including a purported Indonesian passport under the name “Ajanta Mendes.” He later moved to Oman.

He was arrested by the Royal Oman Police on July 8, 2026. After the formal extradition process between Indian agencies, Interpol, and Omani authorities was completed, the CBI brought him back to India on November 1.

The CBI is investigating cases related to the Mahadev Book app, following the Chhattisgarh government’s submission of 13 FIRs. Chargesheets have already been filed in two of these cases. Simultaneously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting a parallel investigation into money laundering, having already filed a prosecution complaint against Chandrakar.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Dev Sai commended the CBI for the arrest, suggesting it could lead to significant revelations about the financial transactions involved. During the hearing in Delhi, Chandrakar’s lawyer questioned the legality of the CBI’s actions, arguing that Oman had only approved extradition for the ED’s case, not for the CBI’s. The lawyer contended that prosecuting Chandrakar in CBI cases would violate extradition terms.

In response, the CBI’s lawyer pointed out that the special Raipur court had already issued a non-bailable warrant against Chandrakar. The cases by the ED and CBI are interconnected, and the Raipur court will determine the validity of the prosecution. The Delhi court was only dealing with the transit remand issue.

Investigators believe Chandrakar, along with Ravi Uppal and other associates, promoted and managed the Mahadev betting network through various platforms. Allegedly, funds from the betting operations were collected via multiple bank accounts and subsequently sent to the United Arab Emirates, with the entire operation managed from Dubai. Many youths from Chhattisgarh were reportedly employed as staff and managers within this network.

While in custody in Oman, Chandrakar claimed his life could be at risk in Indian prisons and requested protection for his family, alleging threats from influential figures associated with the betting network. The CBI plans to interrogate him first, followed by the ED, based on evidence gathered. The Raipur special court will decide on further legal proceedings and the scope of the investigation under the extradition terms.