Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Vasai Crime Branch has arrested nine people in connection with an alleged online betting operation linked to Goa, which investigators suspect used bank accounts and SIM cards registered in other individuals’ names to handle betting-related payments.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doifode said the suspected operation was based at Suntech Hill View-1 End Lakeshore Society in Naigaon East, where bets were allegedly accepted on cricket, football, rummy and other games.
The case came to light after a technical examination of mobile numbers directed investigators towards North Goa. On October 3, a team from Crime Branch Unit-2, headed by Senior Police Inspector Nitin Patil, conducted a raid and detained seven alleged members of the operation.
The arrested individuals 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).
Police recovered 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 material were estimated to be worth ₹9.86 lakh.
Information gathered during questioning reportedly led police to two additional suspects. Nicholas alias Nikki Rangari (34) and Deepak Dhirwani (44) were subsequently arrested on the Pune-Ahilyanagar Road.
Investigators are tracing the bank accounts and payment transactions allegedly used by the network, while also examining how SIM cards and banking facilities were obtained. Further investigation is underway to establish the operation’s reach and determine whether more people were involved.
