Saurabh Chandrakar, one of the key accused in the alleged Mahadev Online Betting App case, has reportedly been arrested in Oman on charges of entering the country using a forged Indonesian passport. Indian authorities have initiated the process to bring him back to India, where he is wanted in connection with a multi-crore illegal betting and money laundering investigation.

According to media reports, Chandrakar was apprehended by the Royal Oman Police based on an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Indian investigating agencies. He is currently being held at the high-security Al Khoud Detention Centre in Muscat while legal proceedings continue.

Arrest Linked to Alleged Fake Passport

Reports indicate that Chandrakar is facing charges of using forged travel documents and illegally entering Oman. Authorities believe he travelled to the country after leaving the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he had been residing for some time.

He has reportedly engaged a team of lawyers in Muscat to contest the proceedings. However, officials familiar with the matter believe obtaining bail may prove difficult because the use of forged passports is treated as a serious criminal offence under Omani law.

Extradition Process Expected

Following his arrest, Indian authorities have begun preparing formal extradition documents to seek Chandrakar's return.

Officials believe the move to travel to Oman using an alleged forged passport may have been an attempt to complicate or delay the extradition process. Under Omani law, the use of forged travel documents can attract imprisonment of three to five years along with financial penalties if the allegations are proven.

Interpol Red Notice Remains Valid

Chandrakar had earlier approached the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files (CCF), seeking the withdrawal of the Red Notice issued against him.

He argued that the criminal proceedings initiated in India were politically motivated and that he would not receive a fair trial. However, the Commission rejected his plea, observing that the investigation primarily concerns financial crimes, including alleged money laundering and illegal betting operations, and does not fall within the category of political persecution.

As a result, the Interpol Red Notice against him continues to remain in force.

Multi-Crore Betting Investigation

Saurabh Chandrakar is among the principal accused in the Mahadev Online Betting App case, which is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Investigators are probing allegations of illegal online betting, money laundering and large-scale financial transactions involving thousands of crores of rupees.

According to the Enforcement Directorate, more than 175 search operations have been conducted in connection with the case so far. The agency has arrested 13 accused persons, named 74 individuals in the investigation and filed five prosecution complaints before the Special PMLA Court in Raipur.

The ED has further stated that movable and immovable assets worth approximately ₹4,336 crore have been attached, frozen or seized during the course of the investigation.

Previous Attempts to Secure Custody

Indian agencies had earlier attempted to bring Chandrakar back from the UAE. In 2024, he was briefly detained in Dubai following the Interpol Red Notice but was later released, and extradition could not be completed.

His latest arrest in Oman is expected to revive India's efforts to secure his custody through formal legal channels.

Fugitive diamond businessman Nirav Modi is a step closer to being extradited to India after reportedly losing his final legal challenge before the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). With the ruling, the last remaining legal hurdle in his extradition process has been removed, paving the way for UK authorities to hand him over to Indian agencies.

According to documents accessed by News18, Modi approached the European Court of Human Rights in April 2026 after exhausting all avenues of appeal before courts in the United Kingdom. However, the Strasbourg-based court declined to grant him relief, effectively ending his legal battle against extradition.

The latest development means there are no further legal remedies available to challenge his transfer to India. Following the completion of judicial proceedings, the UK government has reportedly initiated the formal process required to extradite him. Officials familiar with the matter indicated that the procedural formalities are now in their final stages and Modi could be transferred to India once the process is completed.

Final Legal Barrier Removed

Nirav Modi has been lodged in HMP Wandsworth Prison in London since March 2019, where he has continued to contest India's extradition request through various legal proceedings. His appeal before the European Court of Human Rights was viewed as the final international legal option available to him after repeated setbacks in UK courts.

With the European court refusing to intervene, his legal resistance to extradition has effectively come to an end.

Wanted in PNB Fraud and Money Laundering Cases

Indian investigative agencies, including the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), have been pursuing Modi's extradition for several years.

He is accused of orchestrating the multi-billion-rupee Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and is also facing allegations of money laundering. Investigators have maintained that his presence in India is essential for trial and further investigation into the financial crimes linked to the case.

The alleged banking fraud, one of India's largest financial scams, involved fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) that caused massive losses to Punjab National Bank.

UK Government Begins Extradition Process

Following the conclusion of all legal proceedings, British authorities have reportedly begun administrative formalities for handing over Nirav Modi to Indian authorities.

Sources familiar with the process said the extradition paperwork is being completed, after which the UK government can formally transfer him to India under the bilateral extradition framework.

While no official date has been announced, officials indicated that the extradition could take place once all procedural requirements are fulfilled.

What Is the European Court of Human Rights?

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is an international court based in Strasbourg, France, responsible for hearing cases related to alleged violations of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Individuals facing extradition from European jurisdictions often approach the court, arguing that their fundamental rights may be violated if they are transferred to another country. In Nirav Modi's case, the ECHR represented the final judicial forum available after unsuccessful appeals in UK courts.

With the dismissal of his application, the legal process surrounding his extradition has effectively concluded.

The development marks a significant milestone in India's long-running efforts to bring the fugitive businessman back to face trial in connection with the alleged PNB fraud and related money laundering investigations.