Co-founder of Mahadev betting app arrested in Dubai amid extradition efforts

Ravi Uppal, a co-founder of the Mahadev online betting application and a key figure in a multi-crore illegal betting network, was arrested by Dubai authorities, officials said on Wednesday. The detention follows the recent extradition of his business partner, Sourabh Chandrakar, from Oman by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate.

"We have learnt from reliable sources that Ravi Uppal has been arrested in Dubai. It is a major breakthrough. We will try to get him extradited from the UAE as soon as possible," an Indian government official, who requested anonymity, said.

Uppal, a resident of Bhilai in Chhattisgarh, had previously operated from Dubai and was subject to an Interpol red notice issued in October 2023. He was briefly detained in Dubai in December 2023 but released after 45 days, despite an extradition request from the Enforcement Directorate in January 2024. Earlier reports indicated he had fled the UAE and was believed to be in Vanuatu before returning to the UAE.

Both Uppal and Chandrakar hold Vanuatu passports, according to an unnamed Enforcement Directorate officer. The officer described Uppal as a "vital cog" in the Mahadev operation, handling large-scale hawala transfers and acting as a primary liaison with politicians and bureaucrats in Chhattisgarh. His interrogation is expected to help trace the money trail and identify beneficiaries of the illegal proceeds.

Court and internal documents reviewed by the news outlet show that while Chandrakar oversaw promotion and operations, Uppal managed the head office in Dubai and supervised the financial network, including hawala deliveries and betting operators in Nagpur. A second officer indicated that Uppal’s siblings in India allegedly managed his hawala activities domestically.

Authorities are also seeking another accused, Vikash Chhaparia, who is believed to be in Dubai. The Enforcement Directorate alleges that the Mahadev platform operated with the "active support and connivance" of local police and politicians in Chhattisgarh, and that bureaucrats and politically exposed persons received illegal gratification. The agency estimates the total value of proceedings linked to the Mahadev platform and related sites at roughly ₹94,000 crore, with ₹4,000-₹5,000 crore already transferred to the promoters.