SUMMARY
- Saurabh Chandrakar, Mahadev betting app promoter, arrested in Dubai, extradition expected soon.
- ED probes Rs 6,000 crore in proceeds of crime and money laundering linked to the app.
- Lavish Rs 200 crore wedding in UAE under investigation for illegal fund usage.
Saurabh Chandrakar, the mastermind behind the Mahadev betting app, has been arrested in Dubai following an Interpol Red Corner notice issued by India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED). The arrest marks a major breakthrough in the agency’s investigation into the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) gaming and betting syndicate, a platform allegedly used for illegal betting and money laundering.
Chandrakar, along with co-promoter Ravi Uppal, was under investigation after the ED requested the issuance of a Red Notice last year. Following the arrest, sources indicate that the ED is expected to send a formal extradition request to bring Chandrakar back to India. His return is anticipated in the coming days, as formalities for either extradition or deportation are completed.
The ED’s probe into the Mahadev betting app has revealed alleged involvement of high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, Chandrakar and Uppal’s home state. The investigation points to Rs 6,000 crore in proceeds of crime, linking the app to a money laundering network utilizing benami accounts.
In its chargesheet, the ED also cited Chandrakar’s lavish wedding held in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023, where Rs 200 crore in cash was allegedly spent. The event involved hiring private jets to transport guests from India to the UAE and paying celebrities to perform, with many Bollywood actors under scrutiny for their connections to the app.
So far, the ED has arrested 11 individuals connected to the case and filed two chargesheets, including one against Chandrakar and Uppal. The agency continues to investigate the flow of illegal funds, including bribes paid to politicians and officials.
