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A special CBI court in Raipur has sent Mahadev betting app case accused Saurabh Chandrakar to judicial custody till November 19.
What Did the CBI Court Decide?
The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Raipur on Thursday remanded Saurabh Chandrakar, an alleged key operator of the ₹6,000-crore Mahadev online betting app scam, to judicial custody until November 19, following the completion of his eight-day CBI custody.
Chandrakar, who was extradited from Oman earlier this month, appeared before Special Judge Manoj Kumar Singh Thakur. His lawyer, Tushar Giri, said the CBI did not seek an extension of custodial interrogation. The court subsequently ordered that Chandrakar be lodged in Raipur Central Jail.
The accused had earlier been produced before the court on November 4, when investigators secured eight days of custody. The court had also permitted the agency to take him to Delhi for questioning in connection with the alleged betting operation.
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What Action Is the ED Planning?
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is separately investigating suspected money laundering linked to the Mahadev betting platform, approached the CBI court seeking execution of a previously issued non-bailable warrant against Chandrakar.
However, the court dismissed the application. ED counsel Sourabh Kumar Pande said the agency would now approach the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court seeking Chandrakar’s arrest in its money laundering investigation.
The ED has estimated the proceeds of crime in the alleged betting scam at approximately ₹6,000 crore. The agency has also attached several properties allegedly connected to the syndicate as part of its financial investigation.
How Did the Alleged Betting Network Operate?
According to the CBI, Mahadev Online Book operated as an illegal betting syndicate from outside India through a network of franchised panels and branches. The platform allegedly facilitated betting on cricket, football, card games and other events while collecting money from users across the country.
Investigators allege that proceeds were transferred through numerous mule bank accounts, moved through multiple transactions and eventually routed abroad using hawala channels. Some funds were allegedly used to make payments to public servants to protect the operation.
Chandrakar and co-accused Ravi Uppal, both from Chhattisgarh’s Durg district, allegedly promoted the platform and operated the network from Dubai. Investigators claim hundreds of bank accounts were opened on a commission basis to transfer betting proceeds to the United Arab Emirates.
How Has the Investigation Progressed?
The case has been under investigation by multiple agencies. Chhattisgarh’s Economic Offences Wing registered an FIR in March 2024 based on an ED report, invoking provisions relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption.
The FIR named several accused, including former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, Chandrakar, Ravi Uppal, Shubham Soni and Anil Kumar Agrawal. The ED has separately alleged the involvement of senior politicians and bureaucrats in the money laundering case.
In August 2024, the Chhattisgarh government transferred 70 cases connected to the alleged betting scam, along with one Economic Offences Wing case, to the CBI.
Chandrakar’s judicial custody marks the latest procedural development in the investigation. The CBI’s criminal investigation and the ED’s money laundering proceedings remain separate, with the latter agency preparing to seek his arrest before the designated PMLA court.
