The Telangana CID has busted an alleged inter-state online betting racket and arrested 11 individuals from Gujarat, Delhi, and Punjab in a coordinated operation.
According to CID Director General Charu Sinha, the arrests were made by a special investigation team (SIT) set up to crack down on illegal online betting operations and protect citizens from financial fraud and psychological exploitation.
The SIT has identified 25 celebrities and social media influencers who allegedly endorsed online betting platforms in the state, and have counselled them against promoting such activities.
Forensic analysis of bank transactions, mobile phone data, and social media profiles exposed a well-organised interstate betting syndicate that promoted betting activities related to cricket matches, casino games, and the Aviator gaming platform.
The syndicate collected money through UPI transactions, QR codes, internet banking, and multiple bank accounts operated by the accused, and paid out initial winnings to users to build trust and encourage larger bets.
The CID deployed six special teams to track down the suspects, who were eventually apprehended after a two-week period of sustained surveillance and field operations.
The arrested individuals were found to be involved in online betting offences across multiple states, with 225 complaints and 73 criminal cases registered against the network in various states.
The CID has intensified its crackdown on illegal online betting applications across the state, registering 414 cases against various platforms and identifying 108 betting applications for blocking.
