Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the promoters of the Mahadev online betting app, has been arrested in Dubai following an Interpol Red Corner notice issued at the request of the ED.
Officials confirmed the arrest on Friday, noting that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) authorities informed India’s Ministry of External Affairs about the detention.
The ED is currently finalizing the documentation process for Chandrakar’s extradition, which will be submitted to UAE authorities in the coming days to facilitate his return to India. In December 2022, Chandrakar was placed under “house detention” in Dubai, prompting Indian agencies to remain vigilant.
Chandrakar is considered a key figure in a money laundering case tied to the Mahadev Book Online app, which has connections to political figures in Chhattisgarh and other regions. Indian authorities are using diplomatic channels to secure his deportation or extradition.
In its initial charge sheet submitted to a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act court in Raipur, the ED named Chandrakar and several others, including his uncle, Dilip Chandrakar. The charge sheet revealed that before moving to Dubai in 2019, Sourabh operated a juice shop called ‘Juice Factory’ with his brother in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh.
The ED alleges that Chandrakar married in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023, with approximately Rs 200 crore spent on the event. This extravagant celebration included hiring private jets for guests and paying celebrities to perform.
The ED estimates that the proceeds of crime associated with this case could reach around Rs.6,000 crore.
Investigations indicate that the Mahadev Online Book app is managed from a central headquarters in the UAE, operating through a franchising model that shares profits with associates in a 70-30% ratio.
