Investigators pursue extradition of Mahadev App kingpin Saurabh Chandrakar from Oman amid a massive illegal betting scandal.
New Delhi, India Jul 10, 2026 ALN: Saurabh Chandrakar, originally from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, India, has emerged as a central figure in a massive illegal betting operation that has drawn the attention of law enforcement agencies across the country. His background is marked by humble beginnings, having started as a juice shop owner before co-founding the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) app in 2018 with Ravi Uppal, another resident of Bhilai. The app quickly became notorious for facilitating illegal betting activities and is now at the center of a sprawling investigation into one of India's largest betting syndicates, which is estimated to have generated illegal profits amounting to around ₹6,000 crore.
The operations of the Mahadev app allegedly involved a sophisticated network of illegal betting panels that enrolled users and provided a platform for various betting games and markets. The sheer scale of the operation has led the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to describe it as one of the largest illegal betting syndicates unearthed in the country, particularly concerning its inter dimensions, as much of the operation was reportedly run from outside Indian soil. Authorities have alleged that a portion of the proceeds from this illegal activity was funneled to public servants, raising serious concerns about corruption and complicity within various levels of governance.
In 2019, as the scrutiny intensified, Chandrakar and Uppal fled India, relocating to several countries in West Asia while continuing to manage the betting app from abroad. Their ability to evade capture and maintain operations has led to significant challenges for law enforcement efforts aimed at dismantling their network.
The Mahadev Online Book app is said to have facilitated illegal betting through multiple online platforms, including but not limited to names like Tiger Exchange, Gold365, and Laser247. This diverse array of platforms allowed the syndicate to reach a wide audience, effectively circumventing traditional regulatory frameworks and law enforcement scrutiny. The operations were characterized by a systematic approach to money laundering, which involved the use of thousands of mules or dummy bank accounts. These accounts were opened using the Know Your Customer (KYC) documents of unsuspecting individuals, often without their knowledge.
Once the funds were generated through betting activities, they were layered through these accounts to obscure their origins. This complex financial maneuvering included transferring money outside India via hawala channels, cryptocurrency transactions, and other intricate financial mechanisms. Ultimately, the laundered money was invested in high-value assets, both movable and immovable, located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India. The investment in luxury properties and high-end real estate in Dubai has particularly drawn attention, as it underscores the lucrative nature of the operation and the high stakes involved.
As investigations unfolded, the scale of the alleged Mahadev app scam prompted the CBI to take action. In 2024, a total of 70 cases related to the Mahadev app scam were handed over to the CBI, which has since been working alongside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe the money laundering aspects connected to these cases. On July 9, 2026, the CBI announced that it had filed five chargesheets against 66 individuals linked to the Mahadev betting app. These chargesheets included fresh evidence against both Chandrakar and Uppal, indicating that the investigation continues to uncover new details about the operation.
In March of the same year, the ED reported the arrest of 13 individuals in connection with the case and identified 74 people as accused. The agency also took significant action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by attaching 20 immovable properties valued at nearly ₹1,700 crore. Of these properties, 18 are located in Dubai, encompassing luxury villas and high-end apartments in prestigious areas such as Dubai Hills Estate, Business Bay, and even the iconic Burj Khalifa. The ownership of these properties has been traced back to Chandrakar, indicating the extent of his financial gains from the alleged illegal activities.
Efforts to apprehend Saurabh Chandrakar and bring him back to India have been ongoing since 2024. That year, a non-bailable warrant was issued by a special PMLA court in Raipur, which prompted Interpol to issue a red corner notice against him. Despite these efforts, the extradition process has proven to be complex and fraught with challenges. Initial extradition papers were sent to Dubai, but the process did not yield results.
In mid-June of this year, the ED received information that Chandrakar had been traced to Oman. This prompted the issuance of another non-bailable warrant, and relevant extradition documents were sent to the Indian consulate in Oman, aiming to facilitate his return to India. The extradition process itself is known to be lengthy and complicated, even when there is an existing treaty between countries. The role of Indian agencies is primarily to prepare and submit the necessary documents to the Ministry of External Affairs, which then communicates with the foreign government involved. This submission must occur within a specific timeframe, typically ranging from 30 to 60 days after a red corner notice has been issued.
Once the extradition request is submitted, the foreign country conducts its own verification of the documents. Any discrepancies can lead to outright rejection of the request. Furthermore, the individual whose extradition is sought has the right to defend themselves in that country’s legal system, which adds another layer of complexity to the process. Even if the accused loses their case in the lower courts, they retain the right to appeal to higher courts, prolonging the resolution of the extradition request.
The implications of this case extend beyond just the individuals involved; they raise significant questions about the effectiveness of current regulations governing online betting and the enforcement of laws against money laundering and corruption. As the investigation progresses and more details emerge, it is likely to spark broader discussions about the need for regulatory reforms in the digital space to prevent similar operations in the future. The potential for inter collaboration in combating such trans crimes may also come to the forefront as authorities seek to navigate the complexities of jurisdiction and legal frameworks in different countries.
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