Sourabh Chandrakar, the alleged mastermind behind the Mahadev betting app syndicate, has been detained in Oman, with Indian authorities seeking his extradition or deportation. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleges the case involves proceeds of crime worth around ₹6,000 crore and links to senior politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh, according to inc42.com.
Chandrakar, a resident of Chhattisgarh, was detained by the Royal Oman Police a few weeks ago based on an Interpol Red Notice issued by the ED and state police. Before his detention in Oman, he was tracked to Dubai, where UAE authorities detained him in 2024 but later released him. Investigators say Chandrakar had been using a passport from a Southeast Asian country while evading Indian authorities. The ED also stated that cofounder Ravi Uppal fled from Dubai to Vanuatu, inc42.com reported.
The Mahadev betting app case is a significant crackdown by the ED, highlighting the scale of illegal betting operations linked to political and bureaucratic figures in Chhattisgarh. The ₹6,000 crore proceeds of crime figure places this case among major financial crime investigations in the region. The strong diplomatic ties between India and Oman are seen as a key factor in facilitating Chandrakar's potential extradition, according to inc42.com.
Officials expressed confidence in Chandrakar's extradition or deportation to India, citing the bilateral relationship between India and Oman. Chandrakar had moved to Dubai in 2019 after running a juice shop named 'Juice Factory' in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, with his brother, inc42.com detailed.