Mahadev app kingpin may be extradited soon

Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the key promoters of Mahadev betting app, has been arrested in Dubai in response to a red corner notice issued by Interpol on request by the ED. He is expected to be extradited to India soon, official sources said.

The UAE authorities officially intimated the Ministry of External Affairs about Chandrakar’s arrest on October 10.

In December last year, Chandrakar was put under house detention in the UAE and the ED was informed about it. The agencies are trying to seek his custody through diplomatic channels as he is needed for investigations in connection with the alleged illegal activities like money laundering of Mahadev betting app, in which several political figures from Chhattisgarh and other states were reportedly involved.

The app operated through a network of panel operators across the country allegedly laundering money from illegal betting activities. Cases against Mahadev app have been registered in several states.

The ED has arrested a total of 11 persons in this case till now. Two chargesheets have also been filed by the agency, including against the two promoters. The Chhattisgarh police are also investigating the case. The ED investigation has shown that the Mahadev app ran from a central head office in the UAE. Large-scale hawala operations were done to siphon off proceeds of betting to offshore accounts. Huge expenditure in cash was done in India for advertising betting websites to attract new users and franchise-seekers, the ED said.