- By Kamal Kumar
- Fri, 11 Oct 2024 11:22 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the director-promoters of the Mahadev online betting app has been arrested in Dubai by authorities based on an INTERPOL red corner notice issued on the Enforcement Directorate's request, officials said on Friday. The Emirati officials informed their counterparts in the External Affairs Ministry in India yesterday morning about the arrest of Chandrakar.
With his arrest, ED has also initiated the documentation for the extradition process which will likely take a few days and will be submitted to UAE authorities in the coming weeks.
'House Arrested Since Dec 2023'
Saurabh, a key accused in a multimillion-dollar online gambling scam, was placed under house arrest in December 2023 following the INTERPOL notice against him. The ED was then alerted by authorities in UAE.
India Engaged With UAE Through Diplomatic Channels
Reportedly, authorities in India engaged with their UAE counterparts through diplomatic means to secure the deportation or extradition of Chandrakar.
Among the key accused in thousands of crore scams, he is crucial to the police investigation into the activities of the "Mahadev Book Online" app. Earlier, political figures in Chhattisgarh and other regions were found allegedly connected to the app, marking a series of political storms in the country over the issue.
Chandrakar, Uppal Among Others, Named
In its first charge sheet presented to a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Raipur, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Chandrakar, Uppal, and several others. The document included a statement from Dilip Chandrakar, uncle of Sourabh Chandrakar, revealing that before relocating to Dubai in 2019, Sourabh and his brother ran a juice shop called 'Juice Factory' in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.
What Is Mahadev Online Betting Case
The Mahadev Online Betting case involves an illegal betting platform, Mahadev Book, operated by Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. Linked to extensive money laundering activities, the platform attracted massive users in India. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating, with charges filed and assets frozen to combat the large-scale financial crimes.