The Rajgangpur Police in Odisha's Sundargarh district busted an illegal Indian Premier League (IPL) betting racket on Sunday, 4 May, arresting five individuals who were allegedly running the network and collecting money from bettors. The operation was carried out following credible intelligence, under the direction of Sundargarh Superintendent of Police Amritpal Kaur.

What the Raid Uncovered

A special team conducted the raid in Rajgangpur, apprehending the five accused who were actively engaged in operating the betting network. During the operation, police seized ₹6,00,000 in cash and froze ₹17,61,367 held in a bank account. Investigators also recovered five mobile phones from the accused.

A case has been registered at the Rajgangpur Police Station under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Orissa Prevention of Gambling Act, and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming (PROG) Act.

Part of a Wider Crackdown Across Odisha

This is not an isolated incident. The Odisha Police have recently dismantled similar IPL betting operations in Puri and Berhampur, signalling a coordinated statewide enforcement push during the ongoing IPL season.

In April, the Puri Police busted an IPL betting network, arresting four individuals and seizing more than ₹25 lakh in cash, while freezing ₹31.81 lakh in bank deposits linked to the accused. Interrogation and mobile phone analysis revealed the group operated through an online betting platform, luring numerous people to wager on IPL matches. A raid at one accused's residence alone yielded ₹22.31 lakh, suspected to be betting proceeds. The frozen ₹31.81 lakh in transactions remains under probe, and according to police, the racket had been active in Puri for nearly two years.

Separately, the Berhampur Police arrested a 21-year-old bookie linked to an IPL betting racket. Investigators found that the accused was connected to the online gaming website ag.noor333.com.

The Broader Context

Illegal IPL betting rackets tend to surge during the tournament season, exploiting the sport's massive viewership and the proliferation of online platforms. Law enforcement agencies across multiple states have stepped up surveillance and raids, particularly targeting networks that use digital payment channels and online gaming portals to obscure money trails. This is the third such racket busted in Odisha within weeks, underlining both the scale of the problem and the increasing operational sophistication of police responses.

What Happens Next

All five accused arrested in the Sundargarh case are currently in custody, with further interrogation underway. Mobile phone forensics are expected to reveal the full extent of the network, including the number of bettors involved and any links to larger syndicates. Police have indicated that more arrests cannot be ruled out as the investigation progresses.