Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 1: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has extradited Sourabh Chandrakar, promoter of the Mahadev Online Book illegal betting syndicate, from Oman to India, the agency said on Sunday.
Chandrakar, who is wanted in connection with two cases, will be produced before a special court in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on Monday. He was brought to Raipur after the CBI secured a transit remand.
His extradition comes over a month after another key accused in the case, Abhishek Kumar, was arrested by the CBI at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad on September 24, following his arrival from Dubai.
According to the CBI, chargesheets have already been filed in the two cases involving Chandrakar, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a separate case against him. The agency described his extradition as a significant step in its efforts to bring fugitives operating from foreign countries to justice.
The CBI, which is investigating the case following a request from the Chhattisgarh government, said Mahadev Online Book was among the country's largest illegal online betting syndicates, operating from outside India.
The platform allegedly facilitated illegal betting on cricket, football, card games and other events through a network of franchised panels and branches spread across the country. These networks enrolled users and collected betting stakes.
In a statement, the CBI said the proceeds from illegal betting were routed through numerous mule bank accounts, layered through multiple transactions and transferred abroad through hawala channels. Investigations also revealed that a portion of the proceeds was allegedly used to pay protection money to public servants to ensure the syndicate's uninterrupted operations.
The CBI has filed chargesheets under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code relating to criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery, as well as the Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act. Meanwhile, the ED has attached several properties in India and abroad in connection with the case.
Providing details of the extradition, the CBI said Chandrakar was detained by the Royal Oman Police following formal extradition requests submitted by the CBI and the ED to Oman.
The extradition process was pursued in coordination with the Central government and the Interpol National Central Bureau.
The CBI expressed gratitude to the Government of the Sultanate of Oman and the Royal Oman Police for their cooperation, stating that the assistance reflected the close relations between the two countries and their shared commitment to combating transnational organised crime.