New Delhi, November 14, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has conducted searches at 33 locations across six states as part of its investigation into the illegal Mahadev Online Book betting platform, following the extradition and arrest of one of its principal promoters, Sourabh Chandrakar, from Oman.
The searches were carried out over the past few days at premises linked to panel operators allegedly associated with the betting network. According to the CBI, investigators found live betting and gambling panels operating at several locations and dismantled them.
The agency seized digital devices, mobile phones and documents that allegedly indicate the use of mule bank accounts and hawala channels to facilitate the betting operations and transfer proceeds.
The searches covered locations in Amritsar, Delhi, Nagaur, Dholpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Durg, Indore, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Mumbai and Nagpur.
Chandrakar was extradited from Oman and arrested by the CBI on November 1. The Special Judge dealing with CBI cases in Raipur subsequently granted the agency eight days of police custody for his interrogation.
According to the CBI, questioning Chandrakar helped investigators uncover details about the platform’s functioning and its network of panel operators in India. He was also confronted with documentary and digital evidence collected during the investigation.
After his police custody ended, Chandrakar was produced before the Special Judge on November 12 and remanded to judicial custody until November 19.
The CBI has registered two FIRs in the Mahadev Online Book case after the investigations were transferred from the Chhattisgarh government.
The investigation has revealed that the platform was allegedly operated from abroad through a head office, while a network of panel operators managed its activities in India. These operators allegedly provided customer IDs, collected betting money through bank accounts opened or hired in other people’s names, and transferred profits overseas through hawala channels.
The agency is continuing its investigation into the roles of other accused persons, including those based abroad, alleged facilitators and public servants. Efforts to secure the extradition of other absconding accused are also underway.
The CBI has cautioned the public against participating in online betting and gambling, warning that lending or renting bank accounts, SIM cards or identity documents for such activities can also attract criminal prosecution.
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