Crime branch uncovers major links in Rajkot betting nexus

Updated on Feb 6, at 2.55 p.m.

In the Rajkot crime branch’s probe regarding the city’s biggest-ever betting nexus, it was revealed that the two master IDs were hosted out of the USA.

This indicates that these master IDs have their servers based in the USA. The server owners have been asked for their data via email by the crime branch.

In the master IDs busted from the three accused in this case - Suketu Bhuta, Bhavesh Khakhar, and Nishant Chag - transactions totalling up to ₹24 cr have been traced.

Alongside, the names of 28 bookies and punters associated with this nexus were also revealed, who are to be nabbed soon.

However, the prime accused, Tejas Raj Rajdev, Nirav Dipak Popat, and his brother Amit Popat, are still absconding.

A crime branch probe revealed that these three used SIM cards from UK-based companies.

A lookout notice is to be issued by the crime branch to prevent them from absconding overseas.

Updated on Jan 25, at 6.15 p.m.

On Jan 23, the crime branch busted Rajkot’s biggest cricket betting racket to date, unravelling a high profile betting nexus and transactions amounting to ₹3.5 crore.

Crime branch assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Bharat Basiya and police inspector (PI) BT Gohil carried out raids at three different locations on Jan 23 across Rajkot.

The police caught hold of three accused in the case, who revealed the names of three high-profile bookies. These include the names of Tejas Rajdev, who works at PM Enterprise (PM Angadia) and is also the nephew of Rakesh Rajdev, a notorious bookie himself. Alongside, the other names are Nirav Popat and his brother Amit Popat, alias Montu Khaman.

As per the details in the mobile phones of the accused, transactions worth a whopping ₹3.5 cr have been traced till now.

Several crime branch teams have been deployed to nab these three bookies.

Busting the biggest betting nexus in Rajkot

Among the accused held is an associate in this nexus, Bhavesh Khakhar, 42, nabbed from Rajkot’s Raiya Road.

His interrogation revealed the names of the other operatives - Suketu Bhuta, Nirav Popat, his brother Montu Khaman, and Tejas Rajdev.

Following this intel, in a second raid was conducted at a firm named Indira Finance near the city’s Astron Chowk, busing another accused, Suketu. ₹11.65 lakh in cash was also seized from him, and in his interrogation, he gave the names of Nirav, Montu, and Tejas as well.

In the third raid, another operative, Nishant Chag, 23, was nabbed near the Navagam bus stand. In his interrogation, he also revealed the names of Suketu and Tejas.

Crime branch probing for more intel

The crime branch recovered the master IDs of betting platforms from the three accused.

As per Rajkot police commissioner Raju Bhargava, the details obtained from the accused are being analysed with the help of cyber experts.

Sources at the crime branch revealed that the accused were interrogated over the names of other bookies, and punters were also involved in this nexus, as their names are mentioned in codewords.

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