Rajasthan police in India dismantled an online gambling group, involving a sum of 1.5 billion rupees (approximately 18 million US dollars), and arrested three suspects in Alwar. The gang is suspected to be linked to a national gambling network, operating over 30 gambling websites, involving more than 60,000 intermediaries and gamblers.
The police investigation revealed that the websites created by the organization often imitated the well-known gambling platform Mahadev Satta, offering betting services covering IPL cricket, online casinos, and regional games like matka, and inducing users to download fake gambling apps for betting. The funds obtained were then transferred through the "hawala" underground channel, laundered, and reinvested in real estate projects across India.
According to Alwar Police Commissioner Sanjeev Nain, the case began with the arrest of the cybercrime group leader Sandeep by the Udyog Nagar police. Following this lead, the police traced and targeted a larger criminal network, and during the operation, seized two laptops, six Android phones, one hard drive, 15 ATM cards, and one SUV.
The three arrested individuals are: Nitin Paliwal from Alwar's 10B area, Mahesh Sharma from Shalimar area, and Piyush Sharma from Mathura. Paliwal was intercepted on his way back, and key clues were obtained from his devices, further targeting other suspects nationwide.
The police stated that the gang internally completed everything from platform construction to fund transfer, possessing a complete gambling money laundering chain. The three are currently detained for four days, with further investigations ongoing. The police also invoked the organized crime provisions of the Indian Penal Code, and related assets involved may be frozen and seized.
