Chandrakar, a fugitive wanted in connection with the alleged online gambling network, was reportedly travelling to Oman using a fake passport obtained from a Southeast Asian country. Agencies are currently attempting to verify the details of his detention through formal channels.
His last known location was in the United Arab Emirates. Officials in New Delhi are hopeful that Chandrakar, who has been wanted since 2019, could finally be brought back to India, as India and Oman have an extradition treaty.
According to reports, authorities in the United Arab Emirates had briefly detained Chandrakar in October 2024 after an Interpol Red Notice was issued against him. He was reportedly kept under house arrest. The same month, India submitted an extradition request, but the proceedings were not completed, making the request ineffective.
Earlier, Hindustan Times reported on November 4, 2025, that Ravi Uppal, another alleged co-founder of the Mahadev Online Book platform, had gone missing from the United Arab Emirates after authorities in the Gulf nation decided to close extradition proceedings against him.
The Central Bureau of Investigation and Chhattisgarh Police are investigating the alleged Mahadev betting network, along with several public servants in Raipur. Investigators have alleged that Chandrakar, in his early 30s, established the betting empire with Ravi Uppal, and the duo moved to Dubai in 2019. The network allegedly continues to operate betting applications and websites from there.
According to a complaint filed by the Directorate of Enforcement, the accused allegedly created betting accounts, collected money from gamblers, and facilitated betting on cricket and other sporting events. The complaint further stated that during the investigation, some accused persons claimed they had received training from individuals identified as Sourabh Chandrakar and another person to operate the betting platform, news agency ANI reported on July 6.
The complaint also alleged that bank accounts used for betting operations were obtained through cheating and impersonation of unsuspecting individuals.
The Directorate of Enforcement had filed a complaint before the Adjudicating Authority under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, seeking confirmation of the provisional attachment of assets worth ₹940.77 crore in the alleged Mahadev Online Book money laundering case.
The complaint was filed under Section 5(5) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act following the Provisional Attachment Order dated June 5, 2026.
In one of its chargesheets, the Directorate of Enforcement claimed that the alleged betting empire operated at least 3,200 betting panels across different cities and generated approximately ₹240 crore per day.
The detention of Sourabh Chandrakar in Oman marks a significant development in the investigation into one of India's largest alleged online betting and money laundering networks. With extradition proceedings now initiated, Indian agencies are seeking to bring the key accused back to face investigation and legal action.
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