Saurabh Chandrakar, the promoter of the Mahadev betting app, has been arrested in Dubai after the Enforcement Directorate issued an Interpol Red Corner notice on Friday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), carried out a significant operation that resulted in the arrest of Saurabh Chandrakar. According to sources, Chandrakar is expected to be extradited or deported to India in the coming days after being formally arrested in Dubai.
Officials have confirmed that UAE authorities officially communicated with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yesterday, informing them of Saurabh Chandrakar’s arrest in Dubai..
According to Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials, the documentation required for Saurabh Chandrakar’s extradition will be completed in the coming days and sent to the UAE authorities to facilitate his extradition to India.
Saurabh Chandrakar, along with another promoter of the Mahadev betting app, Ravi Uppal, was detained in the UAE late last year following the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) request for a Red Notice (RN) against them. The ED’s investigation into the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) gaming and betting app has allegedly uncovered the involvement of several high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh, the home state of Chandrakar and Uppal.
What is Mahadev Betting App Scam
The Mahadev betting app scam is an alleged high profile scandal involving an online betting platform called Mahadev Online Book. The platform enabled illegal gambling on various games such as poker and card games. The scam has drawn the attention of multiple investigative agencies due to its scale and the involvement of money laundering.
The alleged mastermind behind the scam, Saurabh Chandrakar, has been arrested in the UAE on money laundering charges. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) was pursuing his extradition after the alleged scam. The scam reportedly involved laundering around ₹5,000 crore abroad, with 45 accused individuals involved so far.
It’s a significant case that highlights the dangers of illegal online gambling, meanwhile authorities are still working to stop such activities.