Goa Villa Raid: Raigarh Police Bust Central India Biggest Cricket Betting & Hawala Syndicate network linked to Dubai , 6 Kingpins Arrested

RAIGARH (MAY 16, 2026): In a major breakthrough against organized crime, the Raigarh Police has successfully dismantled one of Central India’s largest online cricket betting and hawala syndicates. Under the leadership of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shashi Mohan Singh, a specialized police team tracked down the notorious “Mannu Nathani” gang, leading to a high-stakes raid at a rented luxury villa in Candolim, Goa.The operation resulted in the arrest of six major betting operators, including gang leaders Amit Mittal and Mohit Somani, who were operating a multi-crore illicit network stretching across Raigarh, Raipur, Sakti, Nagpur, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, with ultimate digital links tracing back to Dubai.

The Breakthrough and Goa CrackdownThe investigation intensified following the recent arrests of local bookies Karan Choudhary, Pushkar Agrawal, and Sunil Agrawal in Raigarh (under Crime Nos. 217/2026 and 218/2026 of the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act). Crucial inputs revealed a sophisticated financial pipeline operated by Amit Mittal from Kharsia.

A joint team of the Cyber Cell and Kotwali Police, led by CSP Mayank Mishra and DSP Uttam Pratap Singh, tracked the suspects to Goa. Sensing the police raid, the accused attempted to destroy their calling phones, laptops, and ledger books. However, the team successfully cornered them, seizing 10 high-end smartphones containing incriminating digital footprints.

Modus Operandi: High-Tech Cheating & App ExploitationInterrogations revealed that the syndicate used highly advanced methods to execute their operations and exploit time lags for maximum profit:The 7-Second Stream Advantage: The accused used customized APK files to access streaming applications like Pragati TV and Star Live. These apps broadcasted Indian Premier League (IPL) matches roughly 7 seconds ahead of standard television networks. Bookies used this time advantage to manipulate odds and place winning bets via virtual calling applications before local punters could react.

The Abhinandan Book: Match rates and sessions were sourced directly from Raipur via the “Abhinandan Book/Line” and distributed to lower-level sub-bookies using a Zoom APK integration.Clone of Mahadev App: Operating similarly to the infamous Mahadev Satta scam, the syndicate distributed specialized betting IDs through panels like All Panel Exchange, Taj 777, and Diamond Exchange, earning up to a 10% commission on transactions.

The Hawala Connection & Serial Number TokensThe network relied heavily on international and domestic hawala channels. Bookies transferred crores of rupees across states using a unique “currency note serial number” verification system, where sharing the photo of a specific banknote’s serial number acted as a secure token for cash handovers. Prior to this raid, the police had already frozen and seized cash totaling over Rs 1 Crore from associated modules.

Profiles of the Arrested AccusedAll six arrested individuals carry extensive criminal records with multiple betting cases registered against them across various police stations in Raigarh and Raipur:Amit Mittal (30) – Resident of Station Road, Kharsia (Key link for local sub-bookies).Mohit Somani (38) – Resident of Samta Colony, Raipur (Gang Leader).Visual Prakash Wadhwani (28) – Resident of Choubey Colony, Raipur.Akash Motwani (31) – Resident of Kacheri Chowk, Raipur.Rahul Khandelwal alias Babu (36) – Resident of Magneto Signature Homes, Telibandha, Raipur.Sulabh Khandelwal alias Chhota Babu (33) – Resident of Ramsagar Para, Raipur.

SSP Shashi Mohan Singh’s Statement:”Raigarh Police is maintaining an aggressive stance against organized crime, online betting, and hawala networks. Anyone found operating or assisting these syndicates will face stringent legal action. Tech-savvy criminals will find no safe havens, and our crackdown will continue until the entire network is uprooted.

“The successful operation was executed by a dedicated team including Additional SP Anil Soni, Cyber DSP Unnati Thakur, Kotwali Inspector Vijay Chelak, and several cyber experts and constables who monitored the digital trails for weeks. All accused have been brought to Raigarh on transit remand and are being produced before court for judicial custody.