Acting on disclosures made by the key accused Sourabh Chandrakar, the CBI conducted search at 33 locations across six states,at the locations linked to the panel operators of the illegal online betting platform Mahadev betting app over the past few days. The search was carried out at premises in Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Amritsar, Bhopal and Raipur, linked to the betting platform’s panel operators, they said.
During the searches, officials found live betting and gambling panels and dismantled them. Digital devices, mobile phones and incriminating documents showing the use of mule accounts and hawala network were also seized.
Sourabh Chandrakar was extradited from Oman and arrested by the CBI on November 1. The ED special judge of Raipur granted him eight days of police custody to the CBI. He was then taken to Delhi for a detailed interrogation, where he revealed details about the working of the platform and its network of panel operators in India. He was also confronted with a documentary and the digital evidences collected during the investigation.
It is worth noting that the CBI has registered two FIRs in Mahadev online betting app case after it was transferred from the state government of Chhattisgarh.
As the probe deepened, it was learned that the platform was operated from abroad through a head office With a large number of panel operators in India. These operators handle customer IDs, collect betting money in the bank accounts exclusively opened in the name of other persons and send profits abroad through hawala channels.
“Investigation conducted 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,” CBI Spokesperson Beena Yadav said in a statement.
On expiry of the police custody, Saurabh Chandrakar was produced before the anti special CBI cases Raipur on November 12, following which his remand, he was remanded to judicial custody till 19 November.
CBI continues to identify the role of other accused, including those living abroad and the persons who facilitated the operations and public servants who were involved along with the operators.
The platform allegedly facilitated betting on cricket, football, card games and other events, enrolling users and collecting stakes through its network across the country, said the probe agency.