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.