Rourkela Forged Lottery Racket Busted: Four Arrested, Rs 25.37 Lakh Seized
Rourkela Police have dismantled a major forged lottery racket in the city, seizing counterfeit tickets and cash worth Rs 25.37 lakh.
Acting on specific intelligence, police teams carried out simultaneous raids on December 20, 2025, leading to the arrest of four individuals, including the alleged mastermind.
The kingpin, Sanjaya Sahu (51), originally from Sasaram in Bihar and residing in Rourkela, was found to be running the illegal operation with three associates.
The accused distributed fake lottery tickets through a network of agents, luring unsuspecting citizens with promises of high returns.
The arrested individuals include:
- Sanjaya Sahu (51) – Bihar, residing in Rourkela
- Rajesh Kundu (50) – West Bengal, residing in Rourkela
- Tukuna Mallick (48) – Odisha, residing in Rourkela
- Uttam Kumar Ghosh (66) – Rourkela
Authorities seized forged tickets, cash, and printing equipment believed to be used in the racket.
Police sources confirmed that the scam not only defrauded individuals but also caused significant revenue loss to the state.
A wider probe is underway to trace the origin of the counterfeit tickets and identify additional accomplices. Officials indicated that further arrests are likely as the investigation progresses.
