Mahadev Betting App Case: Mastermind Saurabh Chandrakar Arrested in Dubai

New Delhi: Promoter of Mahadev betting app Saurabh Chandrakar has been arrested in Dubai following an Interpol Red Corner notice issued by the Enforcement Directorate on Friday. 

The ED, along with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), coordinated a major operation in this case, which led to the arrest of Chandrakar. 

Sources said Chandrakar is expected to be either extradited or deported to India over the next few days after he was formally placed under arrest in Dubai recently.

According to officials, the UAE authorities officially communicated with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) yesterday, informing them about Saurabh Chandrakar's arrest in Dubai.

According to the ED officials, the extradition procedure-related documentation will be completed in the next few days and will be sent to the UAE authority to extradite him to India. 

Chandrakar along with another promoter of the app, Ravi Uppal was detained in that country late last year following the ED's request for issuance of a Red Notice (RN) against them.

The ED has alleged that its probe in the Mahadev Online Book (MOB) gaming and betting app has shown involvement of various high-ranking politicians and bureaucrats from Chhattisgarh , the state where Chandrakar and Uppal hail from.

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.