The Mahadev online betting app scandal has returned to the spotlight after one of its alleged masterminds, Sourabh Chandrakar, was extradited from Oman to India on November 1. The development marks a significant breakthrough for Indian investigating agencies, which have been pursuing the accused in connection with an alleged illegal betting and money laundering network worth thousands of crores.
A special team of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) brought Chandrakar back to India following coordination with Omani authorities. He was detained in Muscat in June after an Interpol Red Notice was issued against him. He is expected to be produced before a special CBI court in Raipur on November 2.
Chandrakar, originally from Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, allegedly operated the Mahadev Online Book betting platform alongside co-founder Ravi Uppal. The two businessmen reportedly left India in 2019 and shifted their operations to Dubai.
How did the betting racket operate?
According to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the operation expanded significantly between 2019 and 2020. The platform allowed users to place bets on cricket, football, tennis, badminton, poker and several other games.
Investigators allege that the syndicate operated through a franchise-like network of betting panels. Local operators provided betting IDs, collected money from customers and managed transactions. The promoters allegedly controlled the software, customer network and financial operations from overseas.
The ED has identified more than 3,200 betting panels operating across India and abroad. Investigators also found that money was allegedly transferred through numerous benami bank accounts before being moved overseas through hawala channels.
The ₹200-crore wedding controversy
Chandrakar's lavish wedding in Dubai in February 2023 brought additional attention to the investigation. The ED alleged that approximately ₹200 crore was spent on the celebrations. Private aircraft were reportedly hired to transport guests, while several celebrities and performers attended the event.
Investigators subsequently examined alleged hawala transactions connected with the wedding arrangements.
Political connections and investigation
The case also triggered a political controversy in Chhattisgarh. The ED alleged that Chandrakar and Uppal paid ₹508 crore in bribes to former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Baghel has repeatedly denied the allegations.
The financial scale of the investigation has also expanded. While the case was initially described as a ₹6,000-crore racket, the ED estimated in September 2026 that the proceeds of crime linked to Mahadev and associated betting platforms could reach ₹94,400 crore. This remains an investigative estimate, not a final judicial finding.
What happens next?
With Chandrakar back in India, investigators are expected to question him about the alleged financial network, political connections and other beneficiaries. Agencies are also pursuing the extradition of co-founder Ravi Uppal, who is believed to be in Dubai.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities attempting to trace the money trail and establish the roles of those allegedly involved in the operation.
Reader Comments 0