CBI raids 33 locations across six states in Rs 6,000-crore Mahadev betting app probe

The Central Bureau of Investigation has searched 33 locations across six states in connection with the Mahadev online betting app case, seizing digital devices, mobile phones, and documents. ## Where Raids Happened The searches over the past few days targeted Delhi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Amritsar, Bhopal, and Raipur, focusing on premises linked to the betting platform's panel operators. Officials stated that live betting and gambling panels were found operating at several spots and subsequently shut down.

Promoter Interrogation

The central agency carried out the raids based on information from Sourabh Chandrakar, one of the main promoters of the platform, following his extradition from Oman. Chandrakar was arrested by the agency on November 1 after being brought back from Oman, and a special court in Raipur initially granted eight days of police custody before sending him to judicial custody. CBI spokesperson Beena Yadav said investigators found the platform is run from a head office abroad and uses a large network of panel operators inside the country. These operators handle customer user IDs, collect betting money using mule bank accounts opened in other people's names, and send profits abroad through hawala channels.

Ongoing Case

The probe agency has registered two FIRs in the estimated Rs 6,000-crore betting scam after the Chhattisgarh government transferred the case. Investigators are also looking into the roles of other accused individuals abroad, facilitators, and public servants, while steps are underway to extradite other absconding suspects. According to the agency, the Mahadev Online Book was one of India's largest illegal online betting syndicates, offering betting on cricket, football, and card games.

Context

Online betting scams often rely on complex networks of shell accounts and foreign servers to hide financial transactions from law enforcement. Extradition proceedings and international cooperation play a crucial role when key suspects operate from outside the country.