Mahadev Betting App Mastermind Saurabh Chandrakar Arrested In Oman On Passport Charges
Mumbai-based investigations into the multi-crore Mahadev Online Book betting network took a major turn as the alleged mastermind, Saurabh Chandrakar, was arrested in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, for allegedly using a forged Indonesian passport. The arrest, reported on July 7, 2026, has prompted Indian authorities to initiate formal extradition proceedings to bring him back to India.
Chandrakar is currently being held at the high-security Al Khoud detention centre in Muscat. He was intercepted and detained by the Royal Oman Police after Omani authorities received intelligence alerts that he had fled his previous base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to a report by the Dubai Public Prosecution shared with INTERPOL and Indian agencies, Chandrakar was under strict regulatory surveillance in Dubai. He allegedly used forged identity documents to leave the UAE and enter Oman clandestinely to evade arrest. Omani authorities have registered a criminal case against him for using a forged Indonesian passport.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), acting as the nodal agency for extradition, sent a formal request to Omani authorities last week through the Ministry of External Affairs. The request includes a detailed judicial dossier containing court records and non-bailable warrants, which has been translated into Arabic.
The extradition papers also include an INTERPOL Red Notice. The Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files recently rejected Chandrakar's application to delete the notice, dismissing his claims that the criminal proceedings in India were politically motivated.
Omani law treats forged passport offences as serious crimes, carrying prison sentences of three to five years. Since Omani authorities typically prosecute local offences before addressing external extradition requests, Indian agencies are exploring legal options under the India-Oman Extradition Treaty of 2005, including the potential for a temporary surrender.
