How kidnap plan to cover up fraud lifted the veil off international betting racket
NOIDA: A routine investigation into a kidnapping complaint last week has led cops to an international betting operation worth crores. The discovery came after a father from Alwar in Rajasthan frantically reported his son's kidnapping, unknowingly setting in motion a probe that would expose the gambling syndicate with roots in Thailand and Dubai.
It was on June 12 that Subhash Chandra reported the alleged kidnapping of his son Bhim Singh (22) and nephew Narayan (25). The kidnappers, he claimed, had demanded Rs 7 lakh for the duo's release.
DCP Saad Miya Khan said he initiated an investigation to track the kidnappers, combining electronic surveillance with ground intelligence. The trail led the cops to White Orchid Apartments in Gaur City area. Although they did not find the kidnapped duo there, the cops stumbled upon an illegal betting ring running from a flat.
"We found four youths who were linked to Bhim, the man we were trying to trace. They had two laptops, around a dozen mobile phones, several illegal SIM cards, forged Aadhaar cards and other such IDs. When we questioned them hard, we learnt they were engaged in a betting racket through an app called Rudra Cric Live," Khan said.
The four youths at White Orchid led police to an 18th-floor flat at Radha Sky Garden in Greater Noida.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
"Here, we found Bhim, his cousin Narayan, and two others named Himanshu and Sukhdev. They admitted to placing bets on real-time cricket events, such as run totals, wicket falls, and match outcomes, through the Rudra Cric Live app," the DCP said. Bhim and Narayan were among eight persons - aged between 19 and 31 years - arrested in connection with the betting racket from the two flats.
The syndicate's sophistication was evident in its structure.
Operating through WhatsApp numbers advertised on their app, the accused assigned unique IDs to users betting on live cricket matches. The daily proceeds, around Rs 30 lakh, were channelled to handlers in Thailand and Dubai through a network of transactions.
The probe also lifted the veil off the gang's marketing strategy, which included partnering with social media influencers to promote their app, despite it being banned in India.
The algorithm was designed to let users win initially, luring them into bigger bets and eventual losses.
"We've identified around 20 branches of this syndicate operating in Delhi-NCR alone. This investigation has helped us shut down three branches, but we're pursuing the entire network," said Dharmendra Shukla, the SHO of Kasna police station.
DCP Khan said that summons would be issued to the social media influencers involved in promoting Rudra Cric Live. Police, he said, are now scanning electronic devices and bank accounts of the accused to map the extent of the operation, which had been active for almost six months. But what about the 'kidnapping' complaint and ransom call?
Cops said, it was an elaborate ruse orchestrated by the 'victims' themselves.
Bhim and Narayan, who had allegedly misappropriated funds from the gambling operation, planned their own abduction to cover up the fraud and recover money from their families.
"Bhim admitted he and his cousin used up around Rs 10 lakh. So, to make up for the losses, they created a fake kidnapping scenario, thinking it would scare their families into sending money. Their relatives in Rajasthan did pay some amount and arrived in Noida to pursue the matter with police," Khan said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
Cheating case: HC relief for actor Soubin Shahir
Kochi: High court has extended the date for film actor , his father Babu Shahir and Shawn Anthony, producers of the hit film Manjummel Boys, to appear before police in connection with a financial cheating case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They have now been directed to appear on June 26. Earlier, the Maradu police in Ernakulam had summoned the petitioners for interrogation on June 20, based on a cheating complaint filed by Siraj Valiyathara of Aroor. However, the petitioners' pre-arrest bail plea, which was posted for hearing on June 18, could not be taken up by high court. Accordingly, the bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas extended the appearance date to June 26 and posted the plea for hearing on June 23. The case stems from a complaint filed by Siraj before the Ernakulam magistrate court, alleging that Parava Films LLP, owned by the petitioners, had solicited his investment for the film's production. As per an agreement dated Nov 30, 2022, he disbursed a total of Rs 7 crore over multiple transactions. Despite the film's commercial success, the petitioners allegedly failed to honour the profit-sharing agreement. Based on the magistrate court's direction, Maradu police registered the case in 2024. In March 2025, high court had disposed of the petitioners' earlier pre-arrest bail pleas in view of a stay on the proceedings granted in a related petition. However, the court subsequently permitted the police to resume the investigation. Following this, the police issued fresh notices for interrogation, prompting the petitioners to file a new bail application.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
9 returning from wedding die as SUV, truck collide in Purulia
Purulia: Nine people returning from a wedding were killed on the Dhanbad-Jamshedpur stretch of NH18 on Friday morning when their vehicle collided with a truck. All the victims, including two brothers, were from Jharkhand. The nine had taken an SUV from Jharkhand's Nimdih village, in Seraikela-Kharsawan district, to attend a wedding in Purulia's Adabana village on Thursday. On Friday, they were headed home when, around 6.30am, their Bolero collided head-on with a truck coming from the opposite direction at a curve. The Bolero crumpled while the truck overturned on the roadside. According to witnesses, the impact was such that the front of the SUV completely caved in, trapping passengers inside. Villagers rushed to the spot and began getting them out. A large police contingent soon arrived and joined in the efforts. Balrampur police transported the nine to Banshgar Rural Health Centre, where doctors declared all of them dead on arrival. Identification of the victims was a challenge initially, but an Aadhaar card found on one of the deceased led police to contact Nimdih police station in Jharkhand. Relatives were informed and arrived at the health centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Urologist: How 'Brown Fat' Can Help You Lose A Hanging Belly. Weight Discovery Undo The deceased were identified as Krishnapada Mahato (36), Bijoy Mahato (48), Ajay Mahato (42), Chittaranjan Mahato (24), Chandra Mohan Mahato (50), Gurupada Mahato (31), Shounak Sekhar Mahato (30), Swapan Mahato (27) and Brihaspati Mahato (45). Ajay and Bijoy were brothers. The bodies were sent for autopsy to Deben Mahata Government Medical College & Hospital. Authorities, including Purulia SP Abhijit Bandopadhyay, visited the scene of the accident as well as the hospital. The SP said an investigation was underway and witness statements were being recorded. Police seized the truck; the driver and the helper, however, are on the run. There was temporary congestion on the NH following the accident. Traffic flow soon became normal after the damaged SUV was removed by cops.
Time of India
31 minutes ago
- Time of India
Conman arrested for cheating investors in Erode district
COIMBATORE: A conman, who had been absconding for two years, was arrested by the economic offences wing police in Erode district on Friday in connection with a cheating case. The arrested man has been identified as Franklin, 50. Police said Naveenkumar, 38, of Edaiyankattuvalasu in Erode district started two companies -- Unique Exports and East Valley Agro Farms -- in 2017. He became the managing director of the two firms. Muthuselvan, an ex-serviceman from Ramanathapuram, was functioning as a partner. They promised a monthly return of Rs 18,000 as an incentive against a Rs 1 lakh deposit. Similarly, the firm offered various schemes to the investors. The general public, ex-servicemen and their families invested huge amounts in the two companies. The investors got incentives for two months. After that, the firms failed to give them incentives. Later, the companies were closed. Initially, the victims lodged a complaint with the Erode district crime branch police, who registered a case against Naveenkumar, Muthuselvan and a few others. The police arrested Naveenkumar while he was attempting to escape to Dubai from Chennai in 2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Confidence packed. Wrinkles left behind. Philips Garment Steamers Book Now Undo The case was transferred to the Erode economic offences wing police, who arrested Franklin from Nanjundapuram Perumal Kovil Street in Coimbatore city on Friday in connection with the case. More than 400 people have approached the police to get back their money.
