Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Apr 16: In a late-night operation on April 15, the Goa Cyber Crime Police raided a premises in Sangolda and busted an alleged illegal IPL betting racket, arresting six individuals caught on the spot.

According to police, the accused operated an online betting network linked to ongoing Indian Premier League matches using multiple mobile phones connected via Wi-Fi. They reportedly used apps such as “MG Lion” and “Kabook 1” to facilitate illegal wagering activities.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Gediya Raj Dilipbhai (Surat, Gujarat), Bhimraj Meena (Udaipur, Rajasthan), Nilesh Ratibhai Hirani (Surat, Gujarat), Shani Dipakbhai Chavada (Surat, Gujarat), Rokad Yash Jaysukhbhai (Amreli, Gujarat), and Prashant Harish Trivedi (Bardhaman, West Bengal).

Investigators said the group allegedly routed betting proceeds through multiple mule bank accounts created using fake identities, indicating possible involvement in organised cyber fraud and identity theft networks.

During the raid, police seized laptops, mobile phones, approximately Rs 31,000 in cash, around 50 ATM cards, and materials linked to mule accounts. The total value of seized items is estimated at around Rs 10 lakh.

The accused have been booked under provisions of the Information Technology Act, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the Goa Gambling Act.

Authorities have begun further investigation into the financial trail of the racket and are probing possible links to a wider interstate betting syndicate.

The operation was conducted under the supervision of SP Cyber Crime Raju Raut Desai and led by PI Deepak Pednekar, along with PSI Navin Naik and other members of the cybercrime team.