Mahadev betting app case: Mastermind Saurabh Chandrakar arrested in UAE, likely to be extradited soon

Sourabh Chandrakar along with another promoter of the app was detained late last year

Promoter of Mahadev betting app Saurabh Chandrakar has been arrested in Dubai following an Interpol Red Corner notice issued by the Enforcement Directorate.

The Enforcement Directorate may send a formal extradition request soon. The investigating agency was reportedly communicated about the arrest on Thursday.

Chandrakar along with another promoter of the app, Ravi Uppal was detained in that country late last year following the ED's request for issuance of a Red Notice (RN) against them.

Sources said Chandrakar is expected to be either extradited or deported to India over the next few days after he was formally placed under arrest in Dubai recently.

The ED has alleged that its probe in the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) gaming and betting app has shown involvement of various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, the state where Chandrakar and Uppal hail from.

MOB app, as per the federal agency, is an umbrella syndicate arranging online platforms for enabling illegal betting websites to enrol new users, create user IDs and laundering of money through a layered web of benami bank accounts.

The ED has arrested a total of 11 people in this case till now. Two charge sheets have also been filed by the agency till now, including against the two promoters.

The projected proceeds of crime in this case are about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the agency.
The ED has alleged in its charge sheet that Chandrakar got married at Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023 and about Rs 200 crore "in cash" was spent for this event.

Private jets were hired to ferry Chandrakar's relatives from India to the UAE and celebrities were paid to perform at the wedding, the agency alleged.

It had claimed that the alleged illegal funds generated by the app were shared as bribes to politicians and bureaucrats in the state even as it has summoned many celebrities and Bollywood actors for questioning on the mode of payment and their links with the online betting platform.

(With inputs from PTI)