New Delhi: What key accused Sourabh Chandrakar disclosed after his extradition from the Sultanate of Oman has now led the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to the panel operators of the illegal Mahadev Online Book betting platform. In the last few days, the agency searched their premises at 33 locations across six states on the basis of his disclosures. Chandrakar is one of the principal promoters of the platform.
Live betting and gambling panels were found running during the searches and were dismantled. Digital devices, mobile phones and incriminating documents showing the use of mule accounts and a hawala network were recovered and seized, according to a CBI press release dated 14 November 2026. The cities where searches were conducted are Amritsar, Delhi, Nagaur, Dholpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Durg, Indore, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai and Nagpur.
Chandrakar was extradited from Oman and arrested by the CBI on 1 November 2026. The Special Judge (CBI Cases), Raipur granted his eight day police custody to the CBI. His interrogation revealed details about the working of the platform and its network of panel operators in India. He was also confronted with the documentary and digital evidence collected during the investigation. On expiry of police custody, he was produced before the Special Judge (CBI Cases), Raipur on 12 November 2026 and remanded to judicial custody till 19 November 2026.
The CBI has registered two FIRs in the Mahadev Online Book case after it was transferred from the State Government of Chhattisgarh. The investigation so far has revealed that the platform is run from abroad through a head office and operates in India through a large network of panel operators. These operators handle customer IDs, collect betting money in bank accounts exclusively opened or hired in the names of other persons, and send the profits abroad through hawala channels.
The investigation is continuing into the role of the other accused, including those located abroad, the persons who facilitated the operations and the public servants concerned. Steps for the extradition of the other absconding accused are under way.
The CBI has also cautioned members of the public that online betting and gambling are illegal. Lending or renting one's bank account, SIM card or identity documents to others for such activity is also a criminal offence and exposes the account holder to prosecution.
BI Bureau
