CBI arrests Mahadev fraud accused after arrival from Dubai

Representative image only. File | Photo credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday (September 24, 2026) said it has arrested Abhishek Kumar, one of the alleged ringleaders of the alleged ₹6,000 crore online betting app Mahadev scam. Mr Kumar was arrested at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad immediately after his flight from Dubai landed there on Thursday (September 24, 2026), a CBI official said.

Abhishek Kumar is accused of running online betting and gambling operations under Mahadev Book, coordinating panels, raising funds and acquiring real estate in Dubai from ill-gotten gains from betting and gambling, the official added.

Materials confiscated

“The incriminating material was found and seized in his possession during the search immediately after his arrest. The seized material prima facie points to his active role in running the Mahadev betting app and immediately after the arrest, the accused was produced before a local court in Hyderabad and obtained a three-day remand. Later, he was taken and produced before a Raipur court and remanded in two-day police custody.

The CBI has so far filed eight chargesheets in the Mahadev scam against 100 accused persons, including the main promoters of the Mahadev betting app, panel operators, hawala operators and public servants of the Chhattisgarh government. Mr Kumar is said to have worked closely with the other main accused — Saurabh Chandrakar and Shubham Soni. Chandrakar was last traced to Oman in July, the agencies said. The CBI report noted that efforts are on to bring the duo back to India to face trial.

“Seven Red Corner Notices and two extradition notices have been sent so far and extradition proceedings are underway against two accused,” the official said.

Published – 24 Sep 2026 19:13 IST