In a significant step forward in the investigation into the Mahadev online betting network, the Central Bureau of Investigation secured a two-day transit remand for key operative Saurabh Chandrakar. Following his arrival in India after being handed over by authorities in Oman, the federal investigative agency presented him before the Rouse Avenue Courts in New Delhi. Special Judge for CBI cases Nikhil Chopra delivered the transit direction on November 2, 2026.
Rouse Avenue Court Directs Production Before Raipur Bench
The central agency sought temporary physical custody to transport Chandrakar across state lines to Chhattisgarh, where the primary proceedings originate. Approving the plea, the judicial bench ordered that the accused must be brought before the Special CBI Court in Raipur on or before November 4, 2026. The transit permission allows investigators to comply with statutory inter-state movement norms during custody transfers.
Detention in Oman and Formal Arrest Timeline
Hailing from Sector-8 in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, Chandrakar had managed to evade domestic law enforcement until he came under scrutiny abroad. Authorities in Oman took him into custody after discovering that he entered their territory using fraudulent travel documents. Following diplomatic and administrative steps by the government of Oman to hand him over, the Central Bureau of Investigation formally arrested Chandrakar on November 1, 2026, at 7:35 PM. A Special Court in Raipur had previously issued an open non-bailable warrant against him on September 9, 2026.
Betting Syndicate Coordinated Out of Dubai Headquarters
Investigative material shows that Saurabh Chandrakar, alongside his associate Ravi Uppal, actively built and promoted the Mahadev Book application ecosystem. The operation developed several digital interfaces dedicated to facilitating unauthorized betting across varied regions. Operational command for the entire syndicate was based out of a head office in Dubai. Proceeds collected through these illegal wagering operations were systematically routed through multiple bank accounts before being moved into the United Arab Emirates.
Legal Arguments Over Remand and Extradition Provisions
During the transit hearing, counsel representing Chandrakar contested the plea by referencing Section 21 of the Extradition Act. The defense maintained that judicial clearance in Oman had sanctioned extradition under cases handled by the Directorate of Enforcement rather than the Central Bureau of Investigation. Rebutting this objection, senior prosecution counsel for the agency clarified that the current step strictly involved transit custody to fulfill the legal duty of presenting an arrested individual before the jurisdictional judge within twenty-four hours. Special Judge Nikhil Chopra upheld this narrow administrative scope, observing that the Delhi court was solely handling transit arrangements, leaving all jurisdictional merits and statutory questions to the designated special court in Raipur.
