PANAJI: Nine people have been arrested by the Vasai Crime Branch in connection with an alleged online betting operation linked to Goa, with investigators suspecting that bank accounts and SIM cards registered in other individuals’ names were used to process betting-related transactions.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doifode said the suspected operation was being run from Suntech Hill View-1 End Lakeshore Society in Naigaon East. Bets were allegedly accepted on cricket, football, rummy and other games.
The case came to light after a technical analysis of mobile numbers reportedly led investigators towards North Goa. On October 3, a team from Crime Branch Unit-2, led by Senior Police Inspector Nitin Patil, raided the premises and detained seven suspected members of the operation.
The seven arrested were identified as Furqan Ansari (21), Nitin Makhijani (45), Karan Tanwani (21), Deepak Shekhawat (26), Hitik Khubchandani (26), Rakesh Wadhwani (30) and Mohit Poptani (24).
During the raid, police seized 33 mobile phones, four laptops, 78 passbooks and chequebooks, 69 ATM cards, 40 SIM cards, two CCTV cameras and a notebook. The seized electronic equipment and banking-related materials were estimated to be worth ₹9.86 lakh.
Further questioning reportedly led investigators to two additional suspects, Nicholas alias Nikki Rangari (34) and Deepak Dhirwani (44), who were subsequently arrested on the Pune-Ahilyanagar Road.
Police are now examining the bank accounts and payment transactions allegedly linked to the operation. Investigators are also probing how the SIM cards and banking facilities were obtained and whether additional individuals were involved.
Further investigation is underway to establish the full extent of the alleged betting network and its links to Goa.
