Interpol Officials Detain Him; He May Be Brought to India Within 7 Days
Raipur
Saurabh Chandrakar, the operator of the Mahadev Betting App, has been arrested by Interpol in Dubai. Working with Dubai police and local forces, India’s CBI and ED provided crucial details, leading to his arrest. Chandrakar could be extradited to India within a week.
After the arrest, Interpol informed India’s Ministry of External Affairs, and preparations are underway to bring him back to Raipur. Enforcement Directorate (ED) sources revealed that officials had been covertly monitoring Chandrakar’s locations in Dubai for some time. The required extradition documents, translated into Arabic, have been forwarded to expedite the process.
Chandrakar’s extradition is now in progress, following an Interpol Red Corner Notice. The Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs are actively involved in this case.
Political Reactions: Chhattisgarh Finance Minister O.P. Chaudhary hailed the arrest as a sign of a new era of accountability. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel raised concerns about the delay in Chandrakar’s arrest and questioned the ongoing operation of the Mahadev Betting App under the double-engine government.
Chandrakar’s Background: Hailing from Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, Chandrakar launched the Mahadev Betting App in 2019 after moving to Dubai. The app, involved in illegal betting on sports and elections, quickly expanded its network, especially in Chhattisgarh.
Lavish Wedding in Dubai: In February 2023, Chandrakar hosted a Rs 200 crore wedding in Dubai, featuring private jets and Bollywood celebrities. Payments for the event, including ₹112 crore to an event management company, were made through hawala channels.
