PERSONAL INFORMATION
Profession(s): Businessman (Promoter of the Mahadev Online Book App)
Date of Birth: 13 January 1995 (Friday)
Age (as of 2024): 29 Years
Birthplace: Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
Zodiac sign: Capricorn
Nationality: He holds a citizenship of the Republic of Vanuatu, an Oceania country. [1] Mid-day
Hometown: Bhilai, Chhattisgarh, India
Marriage Date: February 2023
Marriage Place: Ras Al-Khaimah, UAE
Age: 29 Years
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PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Height (approx.): in centimeters – 175 cm in meters – 1.75 m in feet & inches – 5’ 9”
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS
Marital Status: Married
Wife/Spouse: Harshita
Parents: Father – Name Not Known (former employee of the Bhilai Municipal Corporation) Mother – Name Not Known
Siblings: Brother – Gitesh Chandrakar (used to manage ‘Juice Factory’ in Nehru Nagar, Bhilai)
Wife: Harshita
INTERESTING BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Sourabh Chandrakar, the prominent figure behind the Mahadev Online Book App, has recently found himself at the center of a significant legal storm. In 2023, he and his business partner, Ravi Uppal, made headlines when the Enforcement Directorate launched an investigation into their operations for alleged money laundering. This marked a dramatic turn in the narrative of two individuals who emerged from humble beginnings in Chhattisgarh, where they started as small business owners before ascending to the upper echelons of the online betting industry.
Chandrakar’s early life is marked by modesty; he worked as a salesman earning around Rs 10,000 a month at a clothing store in Bhilai. An acquaintance recalled that his father was employed at the Nagar Nigam, framing their family’s financial situation as typical and unremarkable. At the beginning of his entrepreneurial journey, he ran his brother’s juice shop, Juice Factory, in Nehru Nagar, where he reportedly began pilfering funds to fuel his gambling habits. Around the same time, Uppal operated a tyre shop and came from a more affluent background. Their paths crossed in the bustling Akashganga market, where they bonded over cricket and tea, ultimately transitioning from local bookies to establishing a significant online betting platform.
By 2019, the duo had relocated to Dubai, where they officially launched the Mahadev app, a platform that provided access to illegal betting opportunities ranging from cricket to poker. This venture capitalized on the COVID-19 pandemic, as lockdowns led to an uptick in online engagement. Chandrakar and Uppal took advantage of the unique circumstances, expanding their network of operators across several countries, including India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Their operations flourished, relying on a web of approximately 4,000 to 5,000 panel operators who facilitated account creation and financial transactions, while the duo amassed significant profits, reportedly diverting earnings through elaborate hawala operations.
However, the extravagant lifestyle that accompanied their newfound wealth raised eyebrows, attracting the scrutiny of intelligence agencies. Lavish spending, such as hiring private jets for extravagant weddings and engaging celebrities for performances, uncovered financial transactions amounting to Rs 112 crores. This conspicuous consumption did not go unnoticed, leading to an investigation that implicated various Bollywood celebrities either for attending the extravagant events or endorsing the app. In 2023, the Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet naming Chandrakar and Uppal among fourteen accused, which prompted the issuance of non-bailable warrants against them, with estimates of their illicit gains reaching approximately Rs 6,000 crores.
As the investigation unfolded, it came to light that Chandrakar had obtained a passport from Vanuatu in 2022, a strategic move aimed at evading law enforcement. In early 2024, with the Chhattisgarh Police offering a reward for information leading to his whereabouts, Chandrakar’s flight from the law seemed precarious. On 11 October 2024, the situation took a decisive turn when a Red Corner Notice was issued by Interpol. Authorities in Dubai apprehended him, paving the way for his extradition to India, where he will face the consequences of his actions in a legal battle that promises to be as dramatic as his rise to prominence in the world of online betting.
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Note: All biographical information compiled from publicly available sources.