ED Seeks Oman Nod To Question Mahadev Betting Accused Saurabh Chandrakar Over Money-Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in India has sought permission from Omani authorities to interrogate Saurabh Chandrakar, a suspect in the Mahadev Online Book betting network case. The ED aims to question Chandrakar regarding the functioning of the alleged betting network, the involvement of senior officials and politicians, and the flow of betting proceeds.

Chandrakar has reportedly agreed to cooperate with Indian agencies but only if assured of witness protection. Meanwhile, INTERPOL has issued a second Red Corner Notice (RCN) against Chandrakar at the request of the UAE authorities. However, the UAE RCN includes details that differ from those in Indian documents, which could complicate extradition efforts.

The UAE notice lists Chandrakar's place of birth as Vanuatu and his date of birth as January 13, 1995, while Indian records indicate he was born in Chhattisgarh's Bhilai. Additionally, Chandrakar's marital status is reported as single in UAE proceedings, contradicting claims of a high-profile wedding in Ras Al Khaimah in February 2023. These discrepancies may impact the extradition process.