Mahadev app: ED files new request to bring promoter to India from UAE

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has renewed its efforts to bring alleged Mahadev online betting app promoter Saurabh Chandrakar back to India. The federal agency has sent a fresh request to authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) seeking Chandrakar's extradition, sources familiar with the matter told ET.

The move follows the recent rejection of a plea Chandrakar filed before the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL's Files (CCF), which sought the deletion of a Red Notice issued against him.

According to officials, the Commission upheld the Red Corner Notice's (RCN) validity and found no basis to conclude that the proceedings against Chandrakar were politically motivated or fell outside INTERPOL's mandate. The CCF also rejected arguments relating to alleged risks of an unfair trial and human rights concerns, allowing the notice to remain in force.


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Investigators view the ruling as a significant boost to India's efforts to secure Chandrakar's return, as the challenge before the CCF had been regarded as one of the principal hurdles in pursuing international action against him.

Following the decision, the ED submitted a fresh request to UAE authorities seeking the provisional arrest of Chandrakar pending extradition proceedings.

Sources added that while the fresh extradition request has been sent, the current locations of Chandrakar and his associate, Ravi Uppal, are being confirmed. "While we suspect they are still operating from Dubai, there have been inputs that they have been shifting in and out. We are awaiting formal communication on the same from the UAE authorities," an official privy to the developments added.

Both Uppal and Chandrakar renounced their Indian passports and acquired the citizenship of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.

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While Chandrakar's application has been dismissed, co-founder Ravi Uppal, who is also wanted in the case, is learnt to have separately challenged the Red Notice issued against him before the CCF. Indian authorities are yet to receive a final decision on his plea.