Mahadev App Kingpin Sourabh Chandrakar Handed to CBI After Oman Extradition
Delhi court grants CBI 2-day transit remand of Mahadev app promoter Sourabh Chandrakar after his high-profile extradition from Oman.
In a significant breakthrough for investigators, a Delhi court on Monday granted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) a two-day transit remand of Mahadev app kingpin Sourabh Chandrakar. The promoter of the controversial illegal betting syndicate was produced before Principal District and Sessions Judge Nikhil Chopra at the Rouse Avenue Court following his high-profile extradition from Oman.
The Road from Oman to India
Sourabh Chandrakar's journey back to India began in July when he was detained by the Royal Oman Police. His arrest was triggered by an Interpol Red Corner Notice and discrepancies found in his travel documents. After a legal battle in Oman, he was eventually handed over to a visiting CBI team and flown back to India.
The CBI has now sought transit custody to ensure the safe transport of the accused to the Special CBI Court in Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This is where the primary criminal proceedings are pending and where chargesheets have already been filed against him.
Heated Legal Battle in Court
The proceedings in New Delhi were marked by intense legal sparring between the CBI and Chandrakar's legal team. Senior Public Prosecutor V K Pathak, representing the CBI, emphasized the sensitivity of the case and requested the court's permission to keep Chandrakar in handcuffs during transit.
However, defense counsel Tushar Giri vehemently opposed the transit remand, arguing that the arrest was illegal. The defense raised several key objections:
- Extradition Scope: The counsel argued that Chandrakar was extradited specifically for money laundering offenses and not for the CBI's case.
- Court Undertakings: It was claimed that an undertaking was given to the Oman Court stating he would only be tried for money laundering at the PMLA court in Raipur.
- Handcuffs: The defense strongly opposed the CBI's request to keep the accused in handcuffs.
CBI's Rebuttal
The CBI countered these claims, stating that the defense was relying on an outdated order. The agency clarified that the extradition documents they received contained no such restrictions or conditions limiting the trial to only the money laundering case. As the nodal agency, the CBI maintained they were the rightful authority to take custody.
The court has since asked the CBI to provide further clarification on the legal points raised by the defense counsel regarding the terms of the extradition.
A Web of Legal Troubles
Sourabh Chandrakar is currently facing a mountain of legal challenges across multiple agencies:
- CBI: Wanted in two separate cases where chargesheets have already been filed.
- Enforcement Directorate (ED): A prosecution complaint has been filed against him in a money laundering probe.
- Local Oman Law: His handover was previously delayed by the Muscat Court of Appeal until the conclusion of local proceedings regarding his use of forged travel documents.
The extradition process was particularly complex as the Muscat Court of Appeal had to decide between competing requests from India and the UAE, eventually ruling in favor of the Republic of India to allow Chandrakar to face trial for illegal betting and money laundering.