Mahasamund, May 31: The Sankara police in Mahasamund district of Chhattisgarh have dismantled an online betting network, arresting three individuals in the process. Authorities claim that this operation was managed from Nagpur, Maharashtra, and may have connections to several local bookies and betting operators.
According to police reports, a tip-off indicated that online betting was taking place in a shop in the Bhagatdevri area during IPL cricket matches. Acting on this information, the police conducted a raid and initiated an investigation.
During the inquiry, the mobile phones of the accused, Naresh Nishad and Manohar Manjhi, were examined. Both confessed to placing online bets on IPL matches while in contact with Madhusudan Thakre, a resident of Nagpur. Payments for wins and losses were facilitated through local individuals, with many transactions also conducted via PhonePe.
The police claim that the investigation of the seized mobile phones revealed chats related to online betting, transaction screenshots, and evidence of suspicious transactions ranging from thousands to millions of rupees.
Officials noted that the recovered digital evidence suggests a vast network, potentially involving numerous local agents and bookies.
The police have arrested three individuals: Naresh Nishad (40), Manohar Manjhi (38), and Madhusudan Thakre (40). They confiscated a laptop, ten mobile phones, and 1,500 rupees in cash from the suspects.
Authorities are currently conducting an in-depth examination of the call records, WhatsApp chats, and digital transactions from the arrested individuals’ mobile phones. The investigation has uncovered several suspicious mobile numbers and leads to local agents.
The Sankara police believe that this network, allegedly linked to Madhusudan Thakre in Nagpur, could extend to other betting operators. They are now connecting the dots of the entire network based on mobile locations and financial records.
Cases have been registered against the accused under Section 7(1) of the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act, 2022, and further actions are being pursued. Police assert that as the investigation progresses, more significant names associated with this online betting racket may emerge.
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