Betting founder detained in Oman, India seeks extradition

Sourabh Chandrakar, a key fugitive accused in India's sprawling Mahadev online betting and money laundering investigation, has been detained in Oman, according to Indian officials. The Royal Oman Police took Chandrakar into custody several weeks ago based on an Interpol Red Notice issued at the request of Indian agencies. India has now formally requested his extradition.

Chandrakar, a resident of Chhattisgarh in his thirties, is alleged to be a co-founder of the Mahadev online betting syndicate, which Indian investigators claim generated proceeds of crime estimated at 6,000 crore rupees (approximately $720 million). The Enforcement Directorate (ED), India's federal anti-money laundering agency, describes the operation as a large-scale international network that facilitated illegal betting through platforms such as Tiger Exchange, Gold365, and Laser247. The agency alleges the syndicate implicated senior politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh.

Officials stated that Chandrakar is currently held at the Al Khoud detention centre in Muscat. Oman has also registered a separate criminal case against him for allegedly entering the country on a forged passport from a Southeast Asian...