In a major crackdown on online cricket betting and alleged black money operations, Raigarh Police have busted a suspected IPL betting-hawala syndicate and seized cash and assets worth more than Rs 1.03 crore. Three accused, identified as Karan Choudhary alias Karan Agrawal, Pushkar Agrawal and Sunil Kumar Agrawal, have been arrested in the case. Police said the action followed an extensive investigation conducted under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shashi Mohan Singh. The operation was jointly carried out by Cyber Cell, Kotwali Police and Gharghoda Police after earlier raids on April 26 allegedly exposed an online IPL betting network operating from Raigarh and nearby areas. Investigators stated that the earlier action had led to the arrest of six accused along with seizure of mobile phones and cash.

 

Interrogation of the accused, coupled with technical surveillance, digital transaction analysis and financial scrutiny, allegedly revealed a wider syndicate operated by Karan Choudhary and absconding accused Jasmeet Singh Bagga alias Gudda Sardar. According to police, betting proceeds were allegedly routed through business establishments, including petrol pumps, medical stores and other commercial channels, before being shifted further through suspected hawala networks. Police claimed Pushkar Agrawal and his father Sunil Agrawal, residents of Krishna Pride Tower in Raigarh, were allegedly involved in handling cash movement linked to the racket. During raids conducted at the premises, police allegedly recovered Rs 50 lakh cash, a note-counting machine and mobile phones from Sunil Agrawal, while Rs 52.60 lakh cash and additional mobile phones were seized from Pushkar Agrawal. Electronic records, UPI transactions, chats and financial documents are also under examination.