Mahadev app promoter Chandrakar arrested in Dubai

Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the main promoters of the Mahadev Betting App, was arrested by authorities in Dubai on Friday. Chandrakar, the alleged kingpin of the Mahadev betting app scam, was arrested following a Red Corner Notice issued by the Enforcement Directorate last year. According to the sources, the extradition process has already commenced, and it is expected that Chandrakar could be returned to India within a week. Accoeding to information,the process to arrest Chandrakar began on September 4 when a special court in Raipur issued a non-bailable warrant against him and Uppal.
According to the ED, which has been investigating the case since 2022, the Dubai-based Saurabh Chandrakar, a former juice seller, and his accomplice Ravi Uppal are promoters and “kingpins” in the case.First having come to the light under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, the Mahadev betting app is an online betting platform that enabled illegal gambling on various games, including poker, card games, and cricket, and even extended to placing bets on Indian elections. 
In its first Prosecution Complaint last October, a total of 14 accused had been booked in the case – including the app’s promoters Chandrakar and Uppal. In November, the ED alleged that Chandrakar and Uppal paid bribes of Rs 508 crore to Baghel and mentioned the former CM in its supplementary chargesheet filed in January this year. However, Baghel has yet been named as an accused in ED’s case. Former CM Baghel has denied any involvement, claiming he was being targeted as part of a political conspiracy.
Chandrakar is stated to have left for Dubai in 2019 and before that, he used to run a juice shop named "Juice Factory" with his brother in Bhillai town of Durg district.The ED has arrested a total of 11 people in this case till now. Two charge-sheets have also been filed by the agency till now, including against the two promoters. The Chhattisgarh Police too is investigating the case. The projected proceeds of crime in this case are about Rs 6,000 crore, according to the agency.The ED has alleged in its charge-sheet that Chandrakar got married at Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023 and about Rs 200 crore "in cash" was spent for this event. Private jets were hired to ferry Chandrakar's relatives from India to the UAE and celebrities were paid to perform at the wedding, the agency alleged.