Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: A major breakthrough has emerged in the investigation into an IPL betting racket in Punjab, with the Khanna police freezing bank accounts containing Rs 42.3 lakh allegedly linked to illegal cricket betting proceeds, according to a report by The Tribune.The development comes days after police busted a high-profile online betting network operating during the IPL and arrested four accused on April 12. Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police Darpan Ahluwalia said the amount is suspected to have been collected through betting activities, and all transactions will now be scrutinised to trace the money trail and identify other beneficiaries.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The arrested individuals — Dinesh Chhabra, Karan Chhabra, Mahinder Singh and Naresh Kumar — are all residents of Khanna and were allegedly running the racket for a prolonged period. Police had initially seized Rs 44,000 in cash, along with 11 mobile phones and a laptop used to facilitate the operation.International link and money laundering trailInvestigations have also uncovered an international dimension to the racket, with a Khanna native, believed to be hiding in Dubai, emerging as the suspected kingpin. Authorities say the accused used multiple bank accounts and digital platforms to launder money while luring individuals into placing bets on IPL matches through international apps.SSP Ahluwalia revealed that the probe will now expand to examine bank accounts of family members and associates, which may have been used to stash additional illegal earnings. Central agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate, are also likely to be brought in to deepen the investigation.Police further stated that the main accused, Dinesh and Naresh, have prior cases registered under the Gambling Act, while others also have criminal backgrounds.In a significant legal step, the Khanna police have invoked Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the FIR — a stringent provision dealing with petty organised crime. If convicted, the accused could face up to seven years in prison. Officials said this marks the first time such a section has been applied in an IPL betting-related case in the region, signalling a tougher crackdown on organised illegal betting networks.
