Goa Police Conduct Major Crackdown on Alleged IPL Betting Operations
The Crime Branch of the Goa Police executed two significant raids on Friday, targeting suspected cricket betting activities linked to the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The operations resulted in the arrest of ten individuals and the seizure of material assets with a total estimated value of Rs 28 lakh.
First Raid at Ribandar Villa Uncovers Extensive Betting Setup
Acting on specific intelligence, police teams raided a villa located in Ribandar following reports that IPL cricket betting was actively taking place at the premises. Crime Branch Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta confirmed the details of the operation.
"We have arrested Digvijay Devangan, 29, Kamal Singh, 22, and Bhupendra Singh, 20, all residents of Chhattisgarh; Manish Surhota, 21, and Sameer Shyamlal, 20, of Haryana; Gautam Singh Paritur, 28, and Karan Chauhan, 20, of Uttar Pradesh; and Dhruv Ciavwani, 20, of Madhya Pradesh," stated SP Gupta.
The confiscated items from this initial raid included 48 mobile phones, four laptops, 28 SIM cards from various service providers, 18 debit cards issued by different banks, multiple cheque books and passbooks, a Wi-Fi receiver, and cash amounting to Rs 2 lakh. The total value of the attached property from this location was assessed at Rs 8 lakh.
Second Raid at Kadamba Plateau Villa Leads to Additional Arrests
During the course of the first operation, authorities received further intelligence indicating that similar betting activities were being conducted at another villa situated on Kadamba Plateau in Old Goa. A separate Crime Branch team was promptly assembled to investigate this lead.
This subsequent raid resulted in the arrest of two more individuals: Lucky Kashyap, 27, and Karan Aryan, 29, both residents of Madhya Pradesh. The seizure from this location comprised 47 mobile phones, four laptops, one tablet, 49 SIM cards, one television, and seven passbooks.
"The total value of the attached property from the second raid is Rs 20 lakh," added SP Gupta, bringing the combined value of assets seized from both operations to Rs 28 lakh.
Comprehensive Seizure Highlights Scale of Operations
Overall, the two coordinated raids led to the recovery of a substantial cache of equipment and documents. The total haul included 95 mobile phones, eight laptops, 77 SIM cards, 18 debit cards, along with various other electronic devices, financial instruments, and cash.
The arrests span individuals from multiple states across India, including Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, underscoring the potentially interstate nature of the betting network. The operations demonstrate the Goa Police's intensified efforts to combat illegal gambling activities, particularly those exploiting the popularity of the IPL cricket tournament.
Authorities have emphasized that investigations are ongoing to uncover further connections and dismantle any larger syndicates involved in these illicit betting practices. The crackdown serves as a stern warning against engaging in unauthorized gambling operations within the state.
