In a major crackdown on illegal online gambling, Udaipur’s Govardhan Vilas Police Station arrested four individuals linked to the online betting platform Bajrang Book. Authorities seized crucial evidence, including 3 laptops, 4 PC setups, 2 CPUs, 17 mobile phones, 27 ATM cards, 4 bank passbooks, 8 checkbooks, 23 SIM cards, 1 WiFi router, and Rs40,000 in cash. Several bank accounts used by the gang have been frozen.
The accused include flat owner Kuldeep Singh Kumpawat, Mukul Kumar from Jamshedpur, Jayesh Regar from Rajsamand, and Neeraj Singh Choudhary. The alleged mastermind, Puneet Khaturia alias Sonu, remains absconding.
According to SP Yogesh Goyal, Puneet provides bank accounts and mobile SIM cards to his associates, who then operate the online betting network and funnel collected funds through these accounts. DSP Suryaveer Singh added that Puneet, based in Dubai, lures people to rent their bank accounts and illegally obtain SIM cards using forged documents. These accounts are used to process betting transactions in India.
The platform Bajrang Book, created by Puneet in Dubai, allows users to bet on sports such as cricket, football, and kabaddi. Customers are added to WhatsApp groups where they receive a betting ID and QR code. Payments made via QR codes are converted into points for placing bets, with recharges ranging from Rs300 to several lakhs.
The investigation, led by a special team under DST In-Charge Shyamsingh Ratnu and CI Dilip Singh Jhala, continues as authorities search for the fugitive Puneet and trace further connections in the gambling network.
