Koraput: The Malkangiri district police busted an interstate illegal online betting racket and arrested four, including two from Raipur, while seizing several digital and financial devices on Sunday. The action was carried out under the special initiative, ‘Operation Cyber Kavach’, launched by the Odisha police to crack down on cybercrime.The arrests were made in connection with a case registered at Malkangiri police station on Feb 20 under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act, 2000.Malkangiri SP Vinod Patil said, “The investigation began after police verified 142 suspected mule bank accounts during the statewide cybercrime drive conducted from Feb 13 to March 12. During the investigation it was found that several bank accounts were opened through middlemen in the Kotpad area of Koraput by misleading innocent villagers with false promises of MGNREGA payments.”“These accounts, along with mobile numbers and banking documents, were later collected and transported to a network operating from Raipur,” Patil added.He said the mule accounts were being used to route transactions for illegal betting platforms operating across multiple states.According to the police, the accused were facilitating betting through online platforms. They allegedly used multiple bank accounts, digital payment channels and messaging apps to coordinate betting transactions.“Daily transactions worth up to Rs 15 lakh have been traced so far and the total amount involved may exceed Rs 1 crore. More financial trails are being examined,” Patil added.Police recovered four mobile phones, two laptops, five bank passbooks and three cheque books during the operation. Two of the accused were apprehended from Raipur in Chhattisgarh, while the other two belong to Koraput district. Their identities have been withheld as the investigation is still underway.Patil said the seized digital devices and financial documents are being analysed to identify other associates and the larger interstate network involved in the racket. “Further investigation is in progress to uncover deeper links of the racket and to apprehend other members of the syndicate,” he said.Police also cautioned the public, particularly villagers and youngsters, against sharing bank accounts or financial credentials with unknown persons. “Citizens should never share their bank accounts, passbooks or digital credentials with others. Such accounts are often used for cyber crime and can expose the account holders to serious legal consequences,” Patil said.Police said the action was part of efforts to prevent innocent citizens, particularly tribal youngsters and rural residents, from being exploited by cyber crime networks.
