India’s attempt to extradite Sourabh Chandrakar , the mastermind of the ₹ 6,000-crore Mahadev online gambling racket, from Oman has hit a hurdle.
Agencies in India have learned that the UAE has also sent an extradition request to Oman seeking his transfer, people familiar with the development said.
This, officials said, means that even if India wins the extradition case in Oman —which may take months or even years—the timeline to bring him back to India will be affected as New Delhi will have to wait for Oman’s decision on the UAE’s request.
Both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are pursuing Chandrakar’s extradition since the Royal Oman Police detained him in Muscat last week of June based on an Interpol red notice. “We have learnt that the UAE authorities have also sent an extradition request for Chandrakar to Oman on some unknown charges, which we don’t know about. Their illegal betting operations, still running across India despite the government banning multiple platforms and apps linked to Mahadev , allow people to place illegal bets on poker and other card games, cricket, badminton, tennis and football matches and even election outcomes. Former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel is also named as accused in the probe. He has consistently denied his involvement.
He had fled the UAE, where he was hiding since 2019, to Oman sometime in April this year using a fake passport, according to officials.
We are in regular touch with Omani authorities through diplomatic channels but this latest development has the potential to delay our attempts to get him sooner,” said an officer, requesting anonymity.
