ED cracks down on IPL betting network in Assam, Delhi; Rs 13 lakh cash seized
Guwahati, May 27 (IANS) The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) conducted late-night search operations across Assam and New Delhi in connection with a large-scale illegal IPL cricket betting racket and the alleged laundering of proceeds generated through the network, officials said on Wednesday.
According to the ED, searches were carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on the night of May 26 and continued overnight at multiple locations in Guwahati and Tinsukia in Assam, besides New Delhi.
The probe was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the Crime Branch Police Station in Guwahati against Deepesh Bajoria, Ronak Bajoria, Rajesh Jain and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Assam Game and Betting Act, 1970.
The ED later expanded the scope of the investigation by recording an addendum to the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on March 30, 2026, after two additional FIRs were registered at Tinsukia Police Station against Bikash Beria, Nitin Beria, Suprit Biswas and others in connection with similar IPL betting activities allegedly run by an interlinked syndicate.
Investigators said the accused persons were operating a “well-organised, hierarchical and technologically-enabled” betting racket centred around IPL cricket matches. The betting operations were allegedly conducted through mobile phones and encrypted messaging applications such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram, apart from offshore online betting platforms.
The ED said bets were solicited, accepted and settled through both cash transactions and digital channels, including UPI and bank transfers.
The proceeds were allegedly layered and projected as legitimate assets through a network of family members and associates based in Guwahati, Tinsukia and Delhi.
Searches were conducted at the residences of Deepesh Bajoria, Ronak Bajoria, Rajesh Jain, Vikash Agarwal, Suprit Biswas, Bikash Beria, Nitin Beria and Durga Prasad Beria.
The agency also searched a commercial establishment operating under the name “Roycee”, previously known as “Playboy”, in Guwahati.
During the raids, the ED seized several digital devices, including mobile phones and electronic storage media, which allegedly contained records of betting transactions, coded communications and digital trails linked to the movement of proceeds of crime.
The agency also recovered and seized unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 13 lakh.
Three luxury vehicles -- a Mercedes-Benz, an MG Hector and a Toyota Fortuner -- suspected to have been purchased using proceeds of crime were also seized.
In addition, multiple bank accounts allegedly used for routing betting proceeds were frozen. Further investigation is underway.
--IANS
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Disclaimer: This post has been auto published from IANS news agency without any modifications.
