Barbil (Orissa Today) : In a major crackdown on online betting operations linked to the Mahadev app, the Chhattisgarh police have arrested *14 individuals* from various states, including *three youths from Manoharpur, West Singhbhum of Jharkhand*. The arrests were made in *Kolkata and Guwahati*, following an investigation into illegal betting activities during the ongoing *Indian Premier League (IPL) matches*.
The arrested individuals from Manoharpur include *Ankush Mishra and Deepanshu Gupta*, who were apprehended in Kolkata, and *Hardeep Singh*, who was caught in Guwahati. Their arrests were part of a larger operation that stemmed from the interrogation of *Nikhil Wadhwani*, a bookie arrested earlier for facilitating online bets.
*Modus Operandi and Seized Items*
The accused were allegedly operating betting panels under different names linked to the Mahadev app. Reports indicate that they had purchased access to these panels for large sums of money.
During the operation, authorities seized:
– *Multiple mobile phones*
– *Laptops and routers*
– *Numerous ATM cards and SIM cards*
– *Several bank passbooks and cheque books*
– *A security camera*
– *Records of betting transactions worth lakhs of rupees*
*Shockwaves in Manoharpur and Barbil-Joda*
The revelation that three youths from Manoharpur were involved in the betting racket has *shocked the local community*. Ankush Mishra’s father reportedly works as a *tea vendor on trains*, while the fathers of Hardeep Singh and Deepanshu Gupta are *businessmen*. Locals who inquired about their occupations were often told that they worked as *data entry operators in a courier service in Kolkata*, but their *lavish lifestyles* had raised suspicions.
Additionally, reports suggest that *some youths from the Barbil-Joda area* are also engaged in similar *application-based betting platforms*. If authorities extend their investigation, these individuals may also find themselves *in legal trouble*.
*Ongoing Investigation*
Authorities are now preparing to *freeze hundreds of bank accounts* linked to the betting transactions. The police have also contacted banks to *initiate further account freezes* suspected of being used for illegal betting operations.
This incident highlights the *growing concerns around online betting* and its impact on young individuals seeking quick financial gains. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests may follow as authorities uncover more details regarding the network and its operations.
