New Delhi: In a major development in the investigation into the Mahadev Online Book illegal betting syndicate, its promoter and one of the key accused Sourabh Chandrakar has been brought back to India following his extradition from Oman.
A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team travelled to Muscat and escorted Chandrakar to India. He will be medically examined and taken to Raipur after the CBI obtains a transit remand.
Chandrakar will be produced before the CBI Special Court in Raipur on Monday.
Chandrakar, wanted in two CBI cases in which chargesheets have already been filed, is also an accused in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case, in which a prosecution complaint has been filed.
According to the CBI, Chandrakar was traced and detained by Royal Oman Police on the basis of an Interpol Red Corner Notice issued against him.
Formal extradition requests, along with evidence gathered against him, were then sent to Oman.
Mahadev Online Book, one of the country’s largest online betting networks, allegedly offered illegal betting on cricket, football, card games and other events through a network of franchised panels and branches spread across India. It was allegedly operated from outside India.
These outlets allegedly enrolled users and collected bets, with the proceeds being routed through numerous mule bank accounts, layered through multiple transactions and transferred abroad through hawala channels.
The probe also found that a part of the proceeds was allegedly used to pay protection money to public servants to ensure the syndicate could operate without interference.
The CBI, which took over the Mahadev Online Book cases probe on the Chhattisgarh government’s request, has filed chargesheets under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery, and the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act. Chandrakar is among the key accused named in the chargesheets.
The ED is investigating money-laundering aspects of the case and has attached several properties in India and abroad.
