Surat Police busts Rs 943 crore dabba trading, online betting racket; 8 arrested

Surat Police busted a Dabba trading and online gaming racket worth Rs 943 crore. Eight accused have been arrested in connection with the scam, which operated under the guise of a real estate office named “Sunrise Developers”.

The investigation has so far identified over 250 people involved in the illegal online trading and betting network. The accused used illegally developed software to generate user IDs and passwords for customers.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided the office and uncovered two major illegal activities: unauthorised Dabba trading and betting on live sports and casino games via banned platforms.

Police revealed that the operators attracted clients by offering tax-free profits and the option to use black money, promising zero losses. Rajdeep Singh Nakum, Deputy Commissioner of Police, confirmed that financial transactions totalling Rs 943 crore were traced through the trading and gaming applications. Additionally, transactions worth Rs 4.62 crore were found in various bank accounts.

The accused used unregistered software like “Castillo 9” and “Stock Grow” to conduct Dabba trading, an illegal form of stock trading without SEBI approval.

Simultaneously, they ran betting operations on platforms such as “Betfair.com,” “NexonExch.com,” “PavanExch,” and “English999,” focusing on football, cricket, tennis, and casino games.

In an attempt to destroy evidence, the accused used a paper-cutting machine found at the office to shred transaction records, particularly those involving black money.

The main masterminds behind the racket are Nandlal alias Nando Vitthalbhai Gevriya and his cousin Vishal alias Vicky Mansukhbhai Gevriya.

Nandlal is a repeat offender with a previous case related to online gaming and betting. Others arrested include Bhavesh Jinabhai Kihla, Jaideep Kanjibhai Pipaliya, and Navneet Chaturbhai Gevriya, who managed the financial operations.

Bhavin Arvindbhai Hirpara and Bakul Maganbhai Tarsaria, who developed the software, and Sahil Mukeshbhai Suvagia, who made customer calls, have also been taken into custody.

Nandlal had reportedly been active in such activities for over a decade and had been running this illegal operation under the “Sunrise Developers” banner for the last 18 months.

The police seized items worth Rs 17.30 lakh from the office, including 19 mobile phones, four laptops, Rs 10.05 lakh in cash, 13 SIM cards, 31 bank passbooks, 87 chequebooks, two debit cards, a colour printer, and a paper-cutting machine.

Officials confirmed that the accused evaded various taxes, including the Securities Transaction Tax (STT), causing significant losses to the government. The police are now pursuing the absconding accused, Javed alias JD and Parimal Kapadia.

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