A large-scale cricket betting racket operating during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup season has been busted in Rourkela following a coordinated police crackdown. Six persons were arrested, and more than Rs 30 lakh in cash was seized during raids conducted at multiple locations across the city.
According to police sources, the accused were running an online betting operation through a mobile application that enabled users to place wagers on live cricket matches. The platform allegedly gained traction among local youth, especially during high-profile matches such as the India–Pakistan clash, when betting volumes reportedly surged.
Despite the digital interface, investigators recovered substantial hard cash from the accused. Police suspect that while bets were recorded online, many participants handed over cash to local agents who placed wagers on their behalf, creating an offline cash collection network parallel to the online platform.
The crackdown involved simultaneous raids at more than 10 locations under five police station limits in Rourkela. A case has been registered at Bandhamunda police station in connection with the operation.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Rohit Bagat, Pankaj Bagat, Sonu Rao, Mukesh Sahoo, Jitendra Agarwal, and Suresh Khemka. Police also seized a Thar vehicle during the raids.
Preliminary investigations suggest the betting network may have links beyond Rourkela, with suspected connections in cities such as Delhi and Mumbai. To intensify the probe, Rourkela Police have constituted eight special squads.
While the alleged local mastermind has been apprehended, efforts are ongoing to trace the main kingpin believed to be operating at a higher level. Authorities are also initiating procedures to freeze bank accounts associated with the betting transactions.
