PANAJI
The Vasai Crime Branch has arrested nine persons for allegedly operating an interstate online sports betting racket linked to Goa with items estimated Rs 9.86 lakh seized during the investigation.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doifode, the alleged betting network was being operated from Suntech Hill View-1 End Lakeshore Society in Naigaon East. The accused allegedly ran online betting operations involving cricket, football, rummy and other games, using SIM cards and bank accounts opened in other people’s names to route betting-related transactions.
Following a technical analysis of mobile numbers linked to the accused, investigators traced their location to northern Goa. A team from Vasai Crime Branch Unit-2, led by Senior Police Inspector Nitin Patil, conducted a raid in Goa on October 3.
During the raid, police arrested seven persons identified as Furqan Ahmad Jasimuddin Ansari, 21; Nitin Mohankumar Makhijani, 45; Karan Suresh Tanwani, 21; Deepak Anil Shekhawat, 26; Hitik Vinod Khubchandani, 26; Rakesh Santramdas Wadhwani, 30; and Mohit Hansraj Poptani, 24.
Police initially seized 33 mobile phones, four laptops, 78 passbooks and chequebooks, 69 ATM cards, 40 SIM cards, two CCTV cameras and a notebook.
During interrogation, investigators obtained information about other alleged members of the network. Subsequently, Nicholas alias Nikki Narendra Rangari, 34, and Deepak Govindram Dhirwani, 44, were arrested on the Pune-Ahilyanagar Road, taking the total number of arrests to nine.
Police said the investigation is focused on examining the accused’s bank accounts, financial transactions and SIM card dealings to establish the extent of the alleged network and identify possible links to others.
The Naigaon police have registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Information Technology Act and the Maharashtra Gambling Act. Further investigation is being conducted by Vasai Crime Branch Unit-2.
