Kathmandu, Feb 2 (PTI) – Nepal police have dismantled a massive online gambling syndicate involving transactions worth over ₹3 billion, arresting 24 individuals, including 10 Indian nationals.
According to Superintendent Kaji Kumar Acharya of the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, a special police team conducted raids on two houses in the Sanepa area of Lalitpur metropolitan city on Saturday, acting on a tipoff. The arrested individuals were allegedly cheating people under the guise of online gaming.
Indians Among the Arrested
Among those detained, 10 are Indian nationals, identified as:- Ajit Kumar (22)
- Mukesh Mandal (24)
- Manoj Kumar Bajaj (44)
- Sumit Khatri (28)
- Prabat Kumar Sah (34)
- Om Prakash Khatri (32)
- Ravi Prakash Bishwokarma (28)
- Ravi Abhisekh Ojha (23)
- Shivam Pandey (22)
- Manoj Kumar (25)
Modus Operandi: Online Betting via WhatsApp & Indian Bank Accounts
The accused were operating illegal online gambling activities from two rented houses in Sanepa, using a specialized betting application. They contacted individuals through WhatsApp and processed financial transactions through Indian bank accounts for deposits and withdrawals.A preliminary investigation has revealed that the network facilitated transactions amounting to Nepalese Rs 3,047,356,612 (approximately ₹3 billion).
Seized Items in Police Raid
Authorities have confiscated a significant number of electronic devices and financial documents, including:- 57 mobile phones
- 13 laptops
- 34 ATM cards from various banks
- 88 SIM cards
- 12 cheque books
- 8 Aadhaar cards
- 6 passports
This bust marks one of Nepal’s biggest crackdowns on illegal online gambling, highlighting the growing cross-border financial frauds in the region.
