In a major crackdown, the Hyderabad Police have arrested five individuals for organizing an international online betting racket that operated through a manipulated website. The accused lured punters by promoting easy profits and initially offering rewards on bets, but as the betting escalated, the website was controlled by the operators, causing the punters to lose money.
The arrested individuals — S Srikanth, G Harish, G Satish Kumar, S Tirupathi, and A Vinod — were all natives of Asifabad district. Initially involved in betting, the group became skilled in the practice and later launched their own betting website. They used social media platforms to attract punters, charging Rs 1,000 for registration fees. The accused also created a YouTube channel where they shared fake videos of supposed winners, further promoting their manipulated website.
To handle the operations discreetly, the gang procured fake SIM cards and mule accounts, which were used to contact punters and manage cash transactions. The website was rigged, ensuring the punters lost money after placing larger bets.
Acting on a tip-off, the Central Zone Task Force and Madhura Nagar Police raided the accused’s rented flat and dismantled the racket, which had been running for a few months. The authorities are continuing the investigation to identify more victims and understand the full scale of the operation.