The Mahadev Betting App Scam
An illegal online betting platform allegedly built a ₹6,000 crore empire with political protection in Chhattisgarh. Its promoter is now the subject of an Interpol Red Notice, detained abroad as India seeks his extradition.
The Promise
“Online betting and gambling operations will not be permitted to operate in India, and state officials will not provide protection to illegal betting syndicates in exchange for payment.”
— Government of Chhattisgarh and Indian law enforcement generally, State and central authorities responsible for enforcing gambling and money-laundering law · 1 January 2022
The Mahadev Online Book platform, promoted by Saurabh Chandrakar and associates, allegedly ran illegal betting operations through domain names including Tiger Exchange, Gold365, and Laser247, while allegedly paying protection money to police and political figures.
The Standard
No illegal betting platform operating with the knowledge or protection of state officials, consistent with India's gambling and anti-money-laundering laws.
State gambling-prohibition laws and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
In force from 1 January 2022
The Reality
The ED and CBI allege the syndicate built a financial empire of roughly ₹6,000 crore, with proceeds laundered through shell entities in India and abroad, including Dubai. As of mid-2026, the ED had arrested 12 people and filed four chargesheets, attaching, freezing, or seizing properties worth roughly ₹2,426 crore. The CBI has separately conducted searches at the residence of former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel in connection with the case. Promoter Saurabh Chandrakar was detained by Royal Oman Police on an Interpol Red Notice issued at India's request.
As of 14 July 2026
The Gap
Bars share a single zero-based scale. No axis truncation is used to exaggerate or minimize the gap between the two figures.
Timeline
- StatusPlatform operations flagged
Illegal betting operations under the Mahadev brand come to the attention of Chhattisgarh police.
- StatusED opens money-laundering probe
The agency begins tracing proceeds through shell entities in India and Dubai.
- StatusCBI searches Bhupesh Baghel's residence
The agency conducts searches at the former Chief Minister's residence in connection with the case.
- StatusChandrakar detained abroad
Royal Oman Police detain the platform's promoter on an Interpol Red Notice sought by India.
Legal Status
This is a stub entry. Twelve people have been arrested and four chargesheets filed by the ED as of the most recent reporting reviewed; the principal promoter is detained abroad pending extradition, and this investigation has not yet traced the case to any trial verdict.
Named as the platform's promoter; detained by Royal Oman Police in July 2026 on an Interpol Red Notice sought by India. No Indian trial verdict; extradition proceedings pending.
Verdict
Preliminary verdict, pending fuller research: the existence of a large illegal betting operation and its financial scale are documented by multiple ED chargesheets and asset attachments. The extent of political protection alleged, and any resulting individual accountability beyond the platform's own promoters, has not yet been independently verified by this investigation.
This entry was added to establish the case's place in the site's timeline and its headline facts, drawn from ongoing 2026 reporting. It has not yet received the same depth of research as the site's fully developed cases, and the underlying allegations of political protection remain unproven in court.
What remains incomplete
- This is a stub entry. The specific allegations against named political figures, and their current legal status, have not yet been independently detailed here.
- Chandrakar's extradition status was not resolved as of this entry's publication.
- It is not established how much of the ₹2,426 crore in attached assets, if any, will ultimately be forfeited or returned to identifiable victims.
Sources
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