Amritsar: The holy city of Amritsar is among 33 locations in six states searched by CBI in connection with the Mahadev betting app case.The searches were conducted over the past few days at premises linked to panel operators of the illegal betting platform, following disclosures by its principal promoter Sourabh Chandrakar after his extradition from Oman, said a CBI release issued here on Saturday. The agency did not specify where the search was conducted in Amritsar.During the searches, live betting and gambling panels were detected and dismantled. Digital devices, mobile phones and documents indicating the use of mule bank accounts and hawala channels were also seized, it said.Chandrakar was extradited from Oman and arrested on Nov 1. A special CBI court in Raipur granted the agency eight days’ custody for his interrogation, during which he reportedly disclosed details about the platform’s functioning and its network of panel operators. On Nov 12, he was remanded in jail till Nov 19.CBI has registered two FIRs in the case after taking over the probe from Chhattisgarh police. Investigations have revealed that the platform is operated from abroad through a head office, while panel operators manage its activities in India. The operators allegedly generate customer IDs, collect betting proceeds through bank accounts opened or hired in others’ names and transfer profits abroad through hawala channels.Investigation continues to identify other suspects, including overseas operators, facilitators and even public servants, who may be involved. Efforts are underway to secure the extradition of absconding accused, said the agency.
