Mahadev Betting Case: Delhi Court Grants Saurabh Chandrakar 2-Day Transit Remand; Oman Rejects UAE Extradition Plea, Clears India’s Request

Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court on Monday granted betting tycoon Saurabh Chandrakar a two-day transit remand to the Special CBI Court in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. The CBI had sought this remand, citing an open-ended non-bailable warrant against Chandrakar, which was pending before the Raipur court. Chandrakar was extradited from Oman on Sunday, following the Muscat Court of Appeal's decision to extradite him, rejecting a parallel request from the UAE.

The CBI case, registered on December 18, 2024, accuses Chandrakar of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, illegal betting, and violations of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Chhattisgarh Gambling (Prohibition) Act. Chandrakar's legal team argued that Oman had only approved his extradition based on the Enforcement Directorate's money laundering request, not the CBI's, and that his arrest violated the extradition doctrine of speciality.

The CBI countered that their case pertains to the predicate offence of the ED's money laundering investigation, and both matters are being handled by the same Special Court in Raipur. The Delhi court left the question of Chandrakar's extradition to the Special Judge in Raipur, who issued the warrant and is handling the cases.