Police arrest 24 allegedly linked to online betting operation in India
The arrests were made in Andhra Pradesh.
India.- Visakhapatnam Cybercrime Police in Andhra Pradesh have arrested 24 people in connection with an online betting operation that allegedly handled over ₹500 crore (US$52.0m) in transactions. Police say estimated illegal earnings and public losses from the operation totalled around ₹1,500 crore (US$156.0m)
Police said the alleged illegal operation was active in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Sri Lanka, using at least seven online betting platforms. Police Commissioner Shankha Brata Bagchi said the group used a structured system with call centres coordination, sub-bookies and digital operators.
The alleged kingpin, Karan Pakhrani alias “Gabbar”, was arrested in Kolkata along with six associates. Police alleged that he oversaw platform management. During the raids, police recovered mobile phones, bank passbooks, laptops and currency counting machines.
The investigation began with complaints involving the misuse of bank accounts under the pretext of online gaming. According to police, around 224 mule bank accounts were used to route betting proceeds through multiple layers of UPI and bank transfers to conceal the source of funds.
Authorities said further investigation is ongoing to trace additional beneficiaries, financial flows and the wider network of sub-bookies and participants.
