Indian probe agencies have successfully extradited Sourabh Chandrakar, the kingpin of the ₹6,000-crore Mahadev Online Book betting syndicate, from Oman. With the prime accused now in custody, the focus has shifted to co-founder Ravi Uppal, believed to be back in Dubai. Agencies are pushing UAE authorities for his early extradition, aiming to unravel the full scope of one of India’s largest illegal betting and money-laundering operations.
On Sunday, 1 November, A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team brought Chandrakar back after the Royal Oman Police detained him in Muscat in late June based on an Interpol Red Corner Notice. He was produced before a special CBI court in Raipur on Monday (2 November). He faces charges in two CBI cases and a separate Enforcement Directorate (ED) case, with chargesheets already filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act.
The hunt for Ravi Uppal
While Chandrakar’s return marks a breakthrough, the ED is now intensifying its pursuit of Ravi Uppal, a Bhilai resident who fled to Dubai in 2019 along with Chandrakar. Uppal, a co-owner of Mahadev Online Book. He was briefly detained in Dubai in late 2023 following a red notice, but was released within 45 days.
He subsequently fled the UAE, with intelligence saying he had relocated to Vanuatu of which he holds a passport. Officials now indicate he has returned to Dubai.
An ED officer stated, “We have information that Ravi Uppal is now back in Dubai. The proceedings for his extradition are currently underway, and we are aggressively pushing for his return.” Investigators believe Uppal’s role was distinct from Chandrakar’s operational leadership. While Chandrakar ran promotions and daily operations, Uppal allegedly handled hawala deliveries worth hundreds of crores and served as the primary liaison with politicians in Chhattisgarh. The ED is also seeking another accused, Vikash Chhaparia, in Dubai.
The Mahadev app controversy: A background
The Mahadev Online Book syndicate, which authorities describe as one of India’s largest illegal online betting networks. It was run from outside the country through a sprawling franchise model. The operation used approximately 3,200 “panels” and “branches” across India and the UAE to enrol users and collect bets on cricket, football, card games, and other events.
The scam unfolded during the Congress-led government in Chhattisgarh and former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel was named as an accused and beneficiary in the case, while his associates had also been booked and arrested. Furthermore, state governments are in charge of gaming and betting under the Indian Constitution.
The financial scale is staggering. The ED estimates the proceeds of crime linked to Mahadev and associated platforms like Skyexchange and Lotus365 at ₹88,000–₹94,000 crore, with roughly ₹4,000–₹5,000 crore transferred outside India.
Funds were routed through mule bank accounts. It was layered through multiple transactions and ultimately moved abroad via hawala channels. Investigators said that a portion of these proceeds was used to pay protection money to public servants and politicians in Congress-led Chhattisgarh to allow the network to operate unhindered.
The ED has provisionally attached assets worth ₹3,500 crore, including 22 properties in Dubai. The investigation has also brought scrutiny on lavish expenditures, including Chandrakar’s February 2023 wedding in Ras Al Khaimah, which reportedly involved a cash outlay of around ₹200 crore. The agency has arrested 14 individuals in the money-laundering probe and has named 116 accused in its chargesheets.
