The Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell is intensifying its probe into an alleged illegal online cricket betting and cyber fraud network. The investigation has led to multiple arrests and the discovery of suspected fraudulent transactions totaling over Rs 324 crore. The case began with the apprehension of Vijay Kardani in May, unveiling a network operating across states and internationally.
Authorities disclosed that Kardani’s arrest exposed a structured racket involved in online betting activities related to the Indian Premier League season. Following specific intelligence, police detained Kardani in Ahmedabad’s Nikol area and confiscated various electronic devices, cash, and a car. The seized assets, including mobile phones and a television set, were valued at approximately Rs 15,73,660.
Further inquiries resulted in the filing of a case against 47 individuals, with Rajvirsingh identified as the main wanted accused. The case, registered under relevant sections of the Gambling Act and Information Technology Act, involved individuals like Meet Kalariya and Anil Gokaldas allegedly using mule bank accounts to obscure their identities and evade detection.
Investigators found that accused persons, including Kardani and others, were routing funds from illegal betting activities through mule bank accounts. WhatsApp data retrieved from Kardani’s phone revealed details of numerous bank accounts, with a significant portion frozen after verification. Similarly, details of over 1,900 bank accounts were discovered on Anil Gokaldas’s device, with a substantial number confirmed to be frozen.
The investigation exposed a commission-based structure for managing mule accounts, with Akash Nayak allegedly receiving a franchise-style arrangement from a Dubai-based handler. Nayak is accused of sub-franchising operations across India at varying commissions. Law enforcement agencies have frozen numerous bank accounts linked to the network, with cyber fraud complaints totaling Rs 324,58,34,285.
The accused reportedly operated as part of a coordinated conspiracy over two years, utilizing mule accounts registered under unsuspecting individuals’ names. Presently, 10 individuals, including Nayak and Kardani, have been arrested in connection with the case. Authorities are actively tracing the money trail domestically and internationally to identify additional beneficiaries and handlers, with more arrests anticipated as the investigation progresses.
