Mahadev App Kingpin Saurabh Chandrakar Extradited from Oman, Set to Appear in Raipur Court

Raipur, November 3 (Daily Kiran) : Saurabh Chandrakar, the main accused and promoter of the Mahadev App, is expected to appear in Raipur court following his extradition from Oman. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) plans to bring him to Raipur on Tuesday after he was returned to India just two days ago.

A special CBI team successfully transported Chandrakar back to India. He is wanted in two CBI cases, both of which have already seen charge sheets filed. Additionally, he faces allegations in a case brought by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has also lodged a prosecution complaint against him. After completing transit remand formalities, he will undergo a medical examination before being presented in the CBI’s special court in Raipur.

The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi granted the CBI a two-day transit remand for Chandrakar. He is expected to be presented in Raipur’s special court on or before November 4, where the agency will likely seek further remand for questioning related to the Mahadev online betting case.

The CBI is investigating the Mahadev online betting operations at the request of the Chhattisgarh government, which transferred 13 FIRs to the agency. Charge sheets have already been filed in two of these cases. The ED is also probing the money-laundering aspects and has filed a prosecution complaint against Chandrakar.

Investigations revealed that Mahadev online betting was one of the largest illegal online betting syndicates operating from outside India. It offered betting on cricket, football, card games, and other events through a network of franchised panels and branches across the country.

Profits from this operation were funneled through numerous fake bank accounts, layered through multiple transactions, and transferred abroad via hawala channels. A portion of the income was allegedly paid to government employees as a security deposit to ensure the syndicate could operate without interference.

The CBI has filed charge sheets under the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1988, as well as provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to criminal conspiracy, fraud, and forgery, alongside the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act. Chandrakar is named as one of the primary accused in these charge sheets. The ED has also seized several properties linked to the syndicate both in India and abroad.

Chandrakar was located and detained by the Royal Oman Police based on a Red Corner Notice. The CBI and ED submitted a formal extradition request to Oman, supported by evidence gathered against him. This request was advanced in close coordination with Indian agencies, Interpol’s National Central Bureau, and relevant authorities in Oman. After the extradition was approved, a CBI team traveled to Muscat to bring him back to India. The agency expressed gratitude to the government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Royal Oman Police for their cooperation.