CBI seeks extended custody of Chandrakar in Mahadev betting app probe

The CBI is expected to move for extended custody of Sourabh Chandrakar, a key accused in the Mahadev illegal betting application case, as investigators look to deepen their interrogation into the sprawling financial crime network. The federal probe agency has been questioning Chandrakar regarding his alleged role in the operation, with authorities seeking to uncover the full extent of the racket's reach and financial flows. The Enforcement Directorate, which has been pursuing parallel money laundering investigations into the same case, may need to defer its own custodial interrogation of the accused pending the CBI's proceedings. According to ED findings, the Mahadev betting platform commenced illegal operations around 2019-20 and has continued functioning across multiple Indian states despite authorities imposing bans on various applications linked to the operation. The betting racket, which has drawn scrutiny from multiple central agencies, has been identified as one of the country's largest illegal online gambling networks, with significant criminal proceeds allegedly routed through shell companies and informal financial channels.