How kidnap plan to cover up fraud lifted the veil off international betting racket

NOIDA: A routine investigation into a kidnapping complaint last week has led cops to an international betting operation worth crores. The discovery came after a father from Alwar in Rajasthan frantically reported his son's kidnapping, unknowingly setting in motion a probe that would expose the gambling syndicate with roots in Thailand and Dubai.It was on June 12 that Subhash Chandra reported the alleged kidnapping of his son Bhim Singh (22) and nephew Narayan (25). The kidnappers, he claimed, had demanded Rs 7 lakh for the duo's release.DCP Saad Miya Khan said he initiated an investigation to track the kidnappers, combining electronic surveillance with ground intelligence. The trail led the cops to White Orchid Apartments in Gaur City area. Although they did not find the kidnapped duo there, the cops stumbled upon an illegal betting ring running from a flat."We found four youths who were linked to Bhim, the man we were trying to trace. They had two laptops, around a dozen mobile phones, several illegal SIM cards, forged Aadhaar cards and other such IDs. When we questioned them hard, we learnt they were engaged in a betting racket through an app called Rudra Cric Live," Khan said.

The four youths at White Orchid led police to an 18th-floor flat at Radha Sky Garden in Greater Noida.

"Here, we found Bhim, his cousin Narayan, and two others named Himanshu and Sukhdev. They admitted to placing bets on real-time cricket events, such as run totals, wicket falls, and match outcomes, through the Rudra Cric Live app," the DCP said. Bhim and Narayan were among eight persons - aged between 19 and 31 years - arrested in connection with the betting racket from the two flats.The syndicate's sophistication was evident in its structure.

Operating through WhatsApp numbers advertised on their app, the accused assigned unique IDs to users betting on live cricket matches. The daily proceeds, around Rs 30 lakh, were channelled to handlers in Thailand and Dubai through a network of transactions.The probe also lifted the veil off the gang's marketing strategy, which included partnering with social media influencers to promote their app, despite it being banned in India.

The algorithm was designed to let users win initially, luring them into bigger bets and eventual losses."We've identified around 20 branches of this syndicate operating in Delhi-NCR alone. This investigation has helped us shut down three branches, but we're pursuing the entire network," said Dharmendra Shukla, the SHO of Kasna police station.DCP Khan said that summons would be issued to the social media influencers involved in promoting Rudra Cric Live. Police, he said, are now scanning electronic devices and bank accounts of the accused to map the extent of the operation, which had been active for almost six months. But what about the 'kidnapping' complaint and ransom call?Cops said, it was an elaborate ruse orchestrated by the 'victims' themselves.

Bhim and Narayan, who had allegedly misappropriated funds from the gambling operation, planned their own abduction to cover up the fraud and recover money from their families."Bhim admitted he and his cousin used up around Rs 10 lakh. So, to make up for the losses, they created a fake kidnapping scenario, thinking it would scare their families into sending money. Their relatives in Rajasthan did pay some amount and arrived in Noida to pursue the matter with police," Khan said.