Telangana CID Busts Pan-India Dafabet Online Betting Racket; 11 Arrested, BMW and Mercedes Seized

In one of its most significant cyber-crime crackdowns to date, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID) has dismantled a pan-India illegal online betting network operating through the Dafabet platform, arresting 11 accused spread across New Delhi, Gujarat, and Punjab.

The operation, led by six DSP-headed special teams deployed simultaneously across three states, resulted in the seizure of three luxury vehicles — a BMW, a Mercedes, and a Kia Seltos along with eight laptops, two iPads, 26 mobile phones, five passports, and ₹3,21,900 in cash. Additionally, 46 mule bank accounts were frozen during the investigation.

What Triggered the Investigation?

The case originated from a complaint filed by a Karimnagar resident who lost approximately ₹9.95 lakh through the Dafabet online betting platform. What appeared to be an isolated complaint quickly unravelled into a sprawling, multi-state criminal enterprise.

Data from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) revealed 225 complaints and 73 criminal cases against the same network across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana confirming the operation's systematic, national scale.

How the Racket Worked: The Full Modus Operandi

According to Telangana CID DGP Charu Sinha, the accused operated through an 8-layer network of mule bank accounts to collect, route, and launder illegal betting proceeds. Here is how the scheme functioned:

Step 1: Recruitment Through Social Media

Victims were lured through WhatsApp groups, Telegram channels, and social media ads promising "easy money," guaranteed returns, and signup bonuses. The Dafabet app was promoted as a cricket betting platform, but also offered casino games and the Aviator platform — a high-speed virtual betting game popular among urban youth.

Step 2: Building Trust With Early Payouts

The network made strategic early payouts to new users to build trust and encourage progressively higher wagers. Once users were invested, withdrawal requests were delayed, rejected, or subjected to impossible conditions — trapping victims into depositing more money to "unlock" their winnings.

Step 3: Multi-Layer Money Laundering

Funds were collected through UPI IDs, QR codes, internet banking, and multiple controlled bank accounts. The money then passed through eight layers of mule accounts opened under fake firms and identities before being accessed by the network's top organisers. Forensic analysis of bank transactions, mobile numbers, email accounts, and social media profiles by CID's cyber team exposed the full chain.

Who Are the 11 Accused?

The arrested individuals played distinct, defined roles within the network:

Organisers (received funds directly from the app): Manish Singh (24) and Abhishek Singh (26), both from Gujarat.

Mule account operators (Delhi): Igneshious Dass (27), Abhishek Wadhva (27), and Mohd Halim (24) operated accounts on a commission basis.

Fake firm creators (Punjab): Love Kumar (Patiala) and Simarpreeth Singh (Ludhiana) created fictitious companies to receive app proceeds.

Technical support (Gujarat): Ajith Singh (27), Vijay Patidar (25), Yugal Patidar (24), and Prateek Praveen Bhai provided backend technical infrastructure to the two main organisers.

"The SIT traced funds through a network of 46 mule bank accounts spread across eight layers. Forensic analysis revealed a coordinated, multi-state criminal network." — Charu Sinha, DGP, Telangana CID

Scale of Telangana's Anti-Betting Crackdown

DGP Charu Sinha revealed that Telangana has now registered 414 cases against various illegal online betting applications. Authorities have identified and blocked 108 betting applications, while geo-fencing has been implemented against 37 platforms in coordination with internet service providers.

In a notable move, 25 celebrities and social media influencers who had promoted betting applications were formally counselled about the legal risks of such endorsements — a warning shot that the CID is widening its net beyond direct operators.

Why This Case Matters Beyond Telangana

The Dafabet bust highlights a systemic challenge in India's digital economy: offshore betting platforms exploit legal grey zones, routing operations through foreign-licensed entities while targeting Indian users. The use of crypto-adjacent payment flows, mule accounts, and constantly shifting SIM cards and devices makes these networks deliberately difficult to trace.

The Telangana CID's success sustained over two weeks of surveillance despite the accused actively evading detection demonstrates that coordinated inter-state cyber investigation is possible. It also puts other state police forces on notice: the trail of financial forensics always leads somewhere.

What Victims Should Do

Anyone who has lost money to online betting platforms including Dafabet, Betway, 1xBet, or similar apps is advised to file a complaint at the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (cybercrime.gov.in) or call the helpline 1930. Telangana residents can also approach the CID SIT directly through the Telangana police website.