Mahadev scam kingpin's extradition to expose protection racket: Chhattisgarh CM

Sourabh Chandrakar, the primary accused in the multi-crore Mahadev betting app scam, was remanded to two days of Central Bureau of Investigation custody on Monday following his extradition from Oman. The development marks a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the massive illegal gambling network that operated across multiple states. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai suggested that Chandrakar's interrogation would uncover the identities of officials who allegedly accepted protection money to allow the operation to flourish. A 2024 first information report filed in connection with the scam named former Congress Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel as a co-accused, adding political dimensions to the inquiry. The CBI is expected to intensively question Chandrakar during his custody period to establish the nexus between the gambling operation, corrupt officials, and politicians who may have facilitated or protected the scam. The investigation assumes heightened significance as it progresses, given potential links to high-ranking state figures and the scale of alleged financial irregularities involved in the scheme.