Sourabh Chandrakar, who once operated a small juice shop in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, is expected to be extradited to India following his arrest in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over a significant ₹6,000 crore betting scam associated with the Mahadev app. His arrest was executed under an Interpol red notice, prompting Indian federal agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and Chhattisgarh Police, to collaborate on the extradition process through the Ministry of External Affairs. A Raipur court has already issued the extradition order, which is now being forwarded to the authorities in the UAE.
Building a Criminal Empire from a Juice Shop
Chandrakar and his business partner, Ravi Uppal, have been under house arrest in Dubai since December of last year. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged that the duo bribed former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel with a sum of ₹508 crore. After moving to Dubai in 2019, Chandrakar transformed from his modest beginnings into a major figure in the online betting sector by launching the Mahadev app. Their operations have reportedly grown to include about 30 call centers both in India and internationally, employing around 4,000 panel operators who each managed roughly 200 customers, resulting in an estimated daily revenue of ₹200 crore.
The ED’s chargesheet alleges that Chandrakar’s extravagant lifestyle was financed through these illicit activities, including a lavish wedding in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, in February 2023, where around ₹200 crore was reportedly spent. The event featured performances from 17 Bollywood celebrities, flown in on chartered flights and allegedly paid crores through hawala channels. The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle the criminal network linked to Chandrakar and Uppal.
