The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Deepesh Bajoria, a Guwahati resident, in connection with a money-laundering probe into an alleged organised cricket-betting syndicate that reportedly operated across Assam and the broader northeastern region. The arrest was made on 19 September 2026 under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, officials confirmed on Monday.

Bajoria, a resident of Zoo Road, Guwahati, was subsequently produced before the designated Special PMLA Court, CBI Court No. 3 in Guwahati, which remanded him to ED custody for six days.

How the Investigation Began

The case traces back to an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered on 30 March 2023, based on an FIR lodged by the Crime Branch, Guwahati, along with connected cases registered by Tinsukia and Panbazar police stations. The underlying offences include alleged violations of Sections 120B, 406, and 420 of the Indian Penal Code as well as provisions of the Assam Game and Betting Act, 1970, relating to illegal cricket betting during Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons.

Role of the Accused and Online Platforms

The ED alleged that Bajoria functioned as a principal bookie within the syndicate, leveraging online betting platforms — including skyexchange.com and winner7.io — alongside encrypted messaging channels to facilitate betting transactions and financial settlements. This comes amid growing scrutiny of offshore online betting platforms that operate in legal grey zones in India, with the northeastern corridor increasingly flagged by enforcement agencies as a conduit for such activity.

The Money Trail: ₹28 Crore Through a Shell-Like Account

According to the agency, funds allegedly generated through the betting operations were channelled through the bank account of a partnership firm, M/s DRM Coke, in which Bajoria holds a stake. Despite being represented as a non-operational firm, the account recorded credits of approximately ₹28.12 crore and debits of around ₹28.03 crore between 19 April 2022 and 15 May 2026, the ED said. The near-identical credit and debit figures suggest the account may have been used primarily as a pass-through channel for betting proceeds.

Searches, Recoveries, and Evidence

Searches conducted at Bajoria's premises on 26 May under Section 17 of the PMLA led to the recovery of property documents, luxury vehicle records, and digital data extracted from email accounts and mobile devices, according to the ED. Statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA reportedly corroborated the agency's claims of his involvement in handling proceeds of crime.

Investigation Continues

The ED stated it is continuing to probe the source, movement, utilisation, and beneficiaries of the funds, as well as other financial transactions linked to the syndicate. Further arrests or asset attachments cannot be ruled out as the agency widens its net across the region.