In a major development in the ongoing investigation into the Mahadev Online Book betting syndicate, promoter Sourabh Chandrakar has been extradited to India from Oman. A team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) travelled to the Gulf nation to formally take custody of Chandrakar and escort him back to the country. The extradition concludes a high-profile diplomatic and legal effort to bring him back to face charges in India.
Following his arrival, Chandrakar is expected to undergo mandatory medical examinations before being transported to Raipur. He is slated to be produced before a special CBI court to answer for his alleged involvement in the illegal betting network. The accused is wanted in connection with two separate cases filed by the CBI, for which chargesheets have already been submitted to the court.
The return of the promoter marks a significant escalation in the probe, which authorities have described as one of the largest investigations into an illegal online betting enterprise in India. According to the CBI, the syndicate functioned through a complex, franchise-based model of betting panels distributed across the country, with its primary operations coordinated from outside Indian borders.
The process leading to his return began when Indian agencies successfully traced him to Oman. Acting on an Interpol Red Corner Notice, the Royal Oman Police detained the promoter, facilitating the subsequent legal proceedings. Both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted comprehensive extradition requests to Omani authorities, supported by extensive evidence gathered during their respective investigations into the syndicate's activities.
Beyond the cases being pursued by the CBI, Chandrakar also remains a primary accused in a parallel investigation being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate. The ED has been scrutinizing the financial aspects of the operation, specifically focusing on charges related to money laundering. The agency alleges that the betting network served as a conduit for the movement of illicit funds, with large sums being siphoned through various channels.
The financial scale of the alleged criminal activity has been a point of emphasis for investigators. In March 2026, the Enforcement Directorate announced that it had attached properties valued at approximately ₹1,700 crore. These assets, located in both India and Dubai, were identified by the agency as proceeds of crime linked directly to Chandrakar and his associates. The authorities maintain that these seizures are a critical part of dismantling the financial infrastructure that supported the betting platform.
The return of the promoter to Indian soil provides the investigative agencies with a direct opportunity to pursue the cases in which he has been formally named as an accused. As the legal process now shifts to the courtroom, the focus will likely remain on the evidence gathered by the CBI and the ED regarding the structure of the betting syndicate and the trail of money involved. Authorities have indicated that they are prepared to proceed with the prosecution, which has been in development for several months since the initial detention of the accused in Oman.
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