Key facts
- Saurabh Chandrakar, Mahadev app founder, arrested in Oman
- Mahadev app ran alleged large-scale illegal online betting operations
- Case involves suspected money laundering and celebrity endorsements
- Enforcement Directorate had been pursuing Chandrakar as a fugitive
Saurabh Chandrakar, the fugitive founder of the Mahadev online betting app, has been arrested in Oman, Indian authorities confirmed, in what represents one of the most significant breakthroughs in the country's crackdown on illegal online gambling operations.
Chandrakar had been evading Indian law enforcement for a prolonged period after the Mahadev app came under the scanner of the Enforcement Directorate and other agencies for allegedly running a massive illegal betting racket. The case involves suspected money laundering on a vast scale, with investigators having previously alleged that the platform generated enormous illicit revenues by facilitating online gambling for users across India.
The Mahadev app case attracted national attention not only for the scale of its alleged operations but also because it drew in Bollywood celebrities and public figures who were accused of promoting the platform. The ED had filed multiple charge sheets and conducted raids in connection with the case, naming several high-profile individuals.
Chandrakar's arrest in Oman now sets the stage for potential extradition proceedings to bring him back to India to face charges. Investigators are expected to interrogate him about the full extent of the network's operations, its financial flows, and the identities of other key conspirators who may still be at large. The development is being seen as a major win for Indian financial crime agencies.