Efforts have begun to extradite Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the promoters of Mahadev online booking app and the main accused in the Rs 6,000 crore illegal betting case. Chandrakar was arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week. Now on the basis of Interpol’s red notice, Indian authorities have demanded his extradition. People familiar with the matter gave this information. Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Chhattisgarh Police are working on the extradition documents through the Ministry of External Affairs. In this way, efforts are on to bring Chandrakar back to India as soon as possible.
According to sources, Chandrakar, who was recently arrested in Dubai, will be extradited to India in the next few days. He said that the Enforcement Directorate is in the process of sending the necessary documents for Chandrakar’s extradition to Dubai authorities, after which the court there will be contacted. Sources at the Indian Consulate in Dubai said they have not yet received anything from the UAE authorities. It is said that Chandrakar had gone to Dubai in 2019. Earlier, he used to run a juice shop named Juice Factory with his brother in Bhilai city of Durg district of Chhattisgarh.
Allegations of involvement of politicians and bureaucrats
ED has alleged that Mahadev is an online book gaming and betting app. His investigation has revealed the involvement of various high ranking politicians and bureaucrats of Chhattisgarh. Both Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal are residents of Chhattisgarh. ED has so far arrested a total of 11 people in this case and 2 charge sheets have also been filed. It was said that Chandrakar got married in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates in February 2023 and about Rs 200 crore in cash was spent on it. The agency alleged that private jets were hired to bring Chandrakar’s relatives from India to the UAE. Also, celebrities were paid huge sums of money to perform at the wedding.
(with agency input)
