Indian investigation agencies have intensified their diplomatic and legal efforts to secure the extradition of Mahadev online betting app co-founder Ravi Uppal from Dubai. This push follows the recent success of officials in bringing the app's alleged mastermind, Sourabh Chandrakar, back to India from Oman on Sunday. Agencies are now focusing their resources on locating and extraditing Uppal, who is considered a central figure in the sprawling money laundering case.
According to officials, Ravi Uppal, originally a resident of Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, left India in 2019. While he was previously based in Dubai, intelligence reports indicated that he had fled the city last year. However, authorities now believe that Uppal has returned to the United Arab Emirates. An Enforcement Directorate (ED) officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the extradition proceedings are currently active and that the agency is pushing for his return to facilitate a more comprehensive investigation.
The Mahadev betting app scandal involves allegations of a ₹6,000 crore racket, with the ED naming 116 individuals as accused. Officials suggest that while Chandrakar was primarily responsible for overseeing operations and promotional activities, Uppal held a critical role in managing large-scale hawala transactions. Furthermore, he reportedly served as the primary contact for liaising with bureaucrats and politicians in Chhattisgarh. Investigators believe that securing custody of both promoters is essential to identifying all beneficiaries involved in the illicit network.
The legal history regarding Uppal's movement is complex. Following his departure from India, an Interpol red notice was issued against him in October 2023. He was detained in Dubai in December 2023, and India filed a formal extradition request in January 2024. However, he was released from detention within 45 days. Subsequent reports indicated he had fled to other regions, including Vanuatu, where he reportedly obtained a passport.
The ED has filed six charge sheets in connection with the case thus far. These documents allege that the promoters of the Mahadev app paid substantial bribes to politicians and officials in Chhattisgarh. Among those named in the allegations is former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, who has consistently denied any involvement or wrongdoing in the matter.
The complexity of the case is compounded by the involvement of other suspects. Alongside the efforts to extradite Uppal, agencies are simultaneously working to locate and apprehend another accused individual, Vikash Chhaparia, who is also believed to be in Dubai. Investigations by the ED have suggested that the betting apps associated with the network generated proceeds of approximately ₹43,000 crore over the last seven years.
The successful return of Sourabh Chandrakar from Muscat was executed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and other agencies acting on an Interpol red notice. As the investigation progresses, Indian authorities remain focused on closing the net around the remaining key figures to further unravel the conspiracy and hold the primary operators accountable under Indian law.
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