NEW DELHI, November 2 (Aalimi Nation) – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) said it has brought back Sourabh Chandrakar from Oman, describing him as the alleged kingpin of the Mahadev Online Book illegal betting syndicate. The agency announced the extradition on Sunday, and he was due to appear before a CBI special court in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Monday.
According to the CBI, the Royal Oman Police located and detained Chandrakar after a Red Corner Notice was issued against him. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) then submitted formal extradition proposals, backed by evidence, through Interpol's National Central Bureau and the Omani authorities.
Once the request was approved, a specially deputed CBI team travelled to Muscat and escorted him to India. The agency said the operation was coordinated with other central agencies and Omani officials. It called the extradition "a significant milestone in India's sustained efforts to bring back fugitives" from abroad.
Officials said Chandrakar would undergo a medical examination and be taken to Raipur after transit remand is obtained. The outcome of the court appearance had not been reported at the time of writing.
The CBI took over the investigation at the request of the Chhattisgarh government. Investigators describe the network as one of India's largest transnationally managed illegal gambling syndicates, with an alleged turnover running into thousands of crores of rupees. The figure most often cited by investigators is ₹6,000 crore.
According to the agency, the syndicate operated from outside India and accepted illegal bets on cricket, football, card games and other events through local franchises known as "panels" and "branches". Investigators allege that the proceeds were passed through a large number of mule bank accounts, moved through layered transactions and sent abroad through hawala channels.
The CBI also alleges that part of the money was routinely used to pay public servants so that the operation could continue without interference. These are allegations made by the investigating agency; they have not been tested at trial, and Chandrakar's response to them was not available.
Chandrakar is named as a key accused in two CBI cases, in which chargesheets have been filed. The charges cited by the agency include criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery under the Indian Penal Code, offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and provisions of the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act.
He is also wanted in a money-laundering case registered by the ED, which has filed a prosecution complaint. The ED has attached several properties in India and abroad in connection with the syndicate, according to the investigators.
With Chandrakar now in Indian custody, the central agencies can seek his remand for questioning about the alleged financial trail, including the accounts and hawala channels named in their chargesheets. Any decision on custody will rest with the special court in Raipur.
The case has drawn attention because of the scale of the alleged betting network and the allegation that public servants were paid to protect it. Further steps, including questioning, additional attachments and the progress of the trial, will depend on court orders and the agencies' investigation. Aalimi Nation will report on any official statement after the court hearing.
