Ahmedabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted searches in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Surat as part of a nationwide crackdown on operators linked to the illegal Mahadev Online Book betting platform.The agency carried out searches at 33 locations across six states over the past few days based on disclosures allegedly made by key promoter Sourabh Chandrakar following his extradition from Oman.The operation also covered locations in Amritsar, Delhi, Nagaur, Dholpur, Bhopal, Raipur, Durg, Indore, Mumbai and Nagpur. During the searches, CBI officials allegedly found live betting and gambling panels operating from several premises and dismantled them. Mobile phones, digital devices and documents pointing to the use of mule bank accounts and hawala channels were seized.Chandrakar was arrested on Nov 1 after being extradited from Oman. A special court in Raipur granted CBI eight days’ police custody. During interrogation, he reportedly disclosed details about the betting platform’s operations and its network of panel operators across the country. He was later remanded to judicial custody until Nov 19.According to CBI, the platform is operated from abroad through a centralised head office, while its India operations are managed by a network of panel operators. These operators allegedly handle customer IDs, collect betting money through bank accounts opened or rented in other people’s names, and route profits overseas through hawala channels.CBI has registered two FIRs after the case was transferred from the Chhattisgarh govt. The agency is probing the role of other accused, overseas operators, facilitators and public servants allegedly linked to the network. Efforts are also underway to extradite other absconding accused.The agency has warned people against renting out bank accounts, SIM cards or identity documents for betting-related activities, cautioning that such involvement could lead to criminal prosecution.
