The CBI has finally secured the custody of Mahadev App promoter and prime accused Saurabh Chandrakar after his extradition from Oman on Sunday, bringing an end to a nearly two-year-long cat-and-mouse chase. Chandrakar had earlier managed to give Indian agencies the slip after being detained in Dubai.
His arrest by the CBI could soon be followed by the ED seeking his custody. Custodial interrogation by the two agencies could mean more trouble for former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
Accused Number 6
In its FIR alleging cheating, criminal conspiracy and offences under the Gambling Act, the CBI named 21 people, including Saurabh Chandrakar, Ravi Uppal, unnamed government officials and policemen. But politically, the most potent name in the list is that
of accused number 6 – Bhupesh Baghel.
The CBI registered its FIR on December 18, 2024. Three months later, in March 2025, the agency conducted searches at Bhupesh Baghel’s residence. The searches lasted for almost 15 hours and, among other evidence, the CBI seized three phones.
Any digital device seized at Chandrakar’s behest now could be subjected to forensic examination and its contents corroborated with the evidence obtained during the March 2025 searches. Crucial official documents were also seized during the raids, which could give the agencies more ammunition as they confront Chandrakar.
‘Politically Motivated’
The former Chief Minister had then termed the CBI and ED searches politically motivated, alleging that they were “orchestrated to provide content for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech ahead of his visit on March 30, 2025”.
“15 days ago, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had conducted a thorough raid and questioned what more the CBI could uncover now?” Baghel had asked while speaking to the media.
He also alleged that it was his government that had initiated the investigation into the Mahadev App case and requested the issuance of a lookout circular against Saurabh Chandrakar and Ravi Uppal. He further accused the BJP-led government of shielding the duo.
However, with the CBI now securing Chandrakar’s custody after successfully getting him extradited from Oman, Bhupesh Baghel could have more questions to answer over the alleged conspiracy to defraud people.
The CBI FIR alleged that the Mahadev platform provided illegal betting services across different “live games”, including poker, card games, games of chance and betting activities on sports.
ED Case Against Baghel
Both the CBI and ED suspect that Mahadev App promoters, who originally hailed from Bhilai, were able to operate for so long without legal action because of protection from the state government. Agency officials suspect that “liaisoning money” was paid to officials in the Baghel government in exchange for no action or subdued action against the app.
Allegations have also been made that the cut money went all the way up to the then Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
Satish Chandrakar, one of the aides of co-accused Ravi Uppal, told the ED in a statement that the then Chief Minister’s political advisor was also paid.
“Satish Chandrakar has stated how it began. After 2020, he got police to raid two ID holders of Mahadev Book through Chandrabhushan Verma (accused), whereupon Ravi Uppal met Vinod Verma, Political Advisor to the then Chief Minister, so that police would take no action,” an ED official said.
The main link in the alleged bribery network, according to investigators, was ASI Chandrabhushan Verma.
Both the CBI and ED will now want Saurabh Chandrakar to corroborate the claims made by his co-accused that a total of Rs 65 crore was given to Chandrabhushan Verma in the name of the Chief Minister’s House, out of which Rs 20 crore was delivered in cash to the CM’s residence.
Both agencies are also likely to question Chandrakar about alleged payments to Baghel in the run-up to the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections.
In a sensational claim, the ED had arrested Asim Das and alleged that he had carried money from Dubai-based Mahadev App promoters to political functionaries, including the then Chief Minister of the state. Asim Das later retracted his claim. However, with Saurabh Chandrakar’s arrest, investigating agencies will aim to gather more evidence in this regard.
According to the ED, “On 02.11.2023, five days before the first phase of the Assembly elections, ED intercepted Asim Das (A-19) at Raipur and seized Rs 5.39 crore from Room 311 of the Triton Hotel, his vehicle and his residence at Bhilai. ED’s complaint records that the cash was being moved by the promoters for delivery to select politicians in Chhattisgarh.
In his statement of 03.11.2023, Asim Das stated that Shubham Soni (co-accused) had called him to Dubai on 25.10.2023 and told him that he would receive cash to be delivered to Shri Bhupesh Baghel.”
The agency had alleged that Das returned on November 2, 2023, received a vehicle and hotel booking at Raipur airport, and that at around 2.15 pm, a person placed five bags of cash in the vehicle. He was supposed to wait at the hotel for the location where the money was to be delivered.
“A voice message on his phone told him to go to India and deliver Rs 8 to 10 crore in cash to ‘Baghel’. He identified the voice as that of Shubham Soni (another promoter of Mahadev App),” ED investigators said.
The agencies would want Saurabh Chandrakar to corroborate claims made by his co-accused that huge sums were regularly paid to political executives to ensure the smooth running of betting panels in Chhattisgarh.
Saurabh Soni, according to the ED, has claimed that about Rs 508 crore had been paid so far by the promoters to Shri Bhupesh Baghel, and has named “Verma Ji” as a conduit.
While Baghel has previously alleged a witch hunt and misuse of central agencies, Chandrakar’s arrest could queer the pitch for him at a time when the Opposition has stepped up its offensive against the NDA.
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