Gujarat Police bust ₹324-crore cricket betting network; 10 arrested
Synopsis
What started with a single arrest in Ahmedabad has unravelled into a ₹324-crore cricket betting empire — complete with a Dubai handler, a franchise commission model, and over 2,000 mule bank accounts spread across India. Gujarat Police's widening probe signals this is far from over.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Police's SMC has widened its probe into an illegal online cricket betting and cyber fraud network with suspected fraudulent transactions of over ₹324 crore .
10 accused persons are currently in custody, with further arrests expected; the case names 47 accused in total.
Investigators found details of 1,907 bank accounts on one accused's device alone, with 304 confirmed frozen.
Accused Akash Nayak allegedly received a 40% commission from a Dubai-based handler identified as 'Yuan' and sub-franchised operations across India at 20–25% commissions.
A total of 542 cyber fraud complaints were recorded on the NCCRP portal linked to accounts under scrutiny.
The case is registered under the Gambling Act , Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , and the IT Act, 2000 .
The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has widened its probe into an alleged illegal online cricket betting and cyber fraud operation, with suspected fraudulent transactions totalling more than ₹324 crore and 10 persons arrested so far. The investigation, centred in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar, has exposed a multi-state network with reported overseas links, operating through thousands of mule bank accounts.
How the Case Unravelled
The investigation was triggered in May 2025 with the arrest of Vijay Kardani from the Nikol area of Ahmedabad, following specific intelligence inputs. Police seized a tablet, three mobile phones, a television set, a set-top box, accessories, cash, and a car from him — assets collectively valued at ₹15,73,660.
Kardani's arrest opened a trail connecting the racket to illegal betting activities linked to the Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Subsequent investigation led to the registration of a case naming 47 accused persons, including a wanted prime accused identified as Rajvirsingh and 45 others allegedly serving as clients or facilitators.
The Mule Account Network
Investigators found that accused persons — including Vijay Kardani, Meet Kalariya, Jay alias Raja Aghera, Anil Gokaldas alias Gopaldas Kotak, and Akash Nayak — allegedly routed funds from illegal betting through mule bank accounts to conceal identities and evade detection.
WhatsApp data retrieved from Kardani's phone contained details of 281 bank accounts, of which 50 were found to be frozen after verification through the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCCRP). A separate device belonging to Anil Gokaldas yielded details of 1,907 bank accounts, with 304 confirmed frozen.
Across the wider probe, 354 bank accounts linked to the network were found to have cybercrime complaints registered in multiple states, and 542 cyber fraud complaints were recorded on the NCCRP portal. According to complaint data, victims were allegedly defrauded of a total of ₹3,24,58,34,285.
Dubai Link and Franchise-Style Commission Structure
The investigation has revealed a layered, franchise-style commission arrangement. Akash Nayak is alleged to have received a 40 per cent commission from a Dubai-based handler identified only as 'Yuan' for managing betting-related financial flows. Nayak allegedly sub-franchised these operations across India at commissions ranging from 20 to 25 per cent, pointing to a structured criminal enterprise rather than a loose network.
Officials said the accused allegedly operated as part of a coordinated conspiracy over the past two years, using mule accounts registered in the names of unsuspecting individuals to route illegal funds generated from betting and gaming activities.
Accused in Custody and Legal Charges
The 10 persons currently in custody are Aakash Nayak, Anil Kotak, Pratik Maradiya, Vijay Kardani, Ashvin Mendapara, Jay alias Shambhu Kaneriya, Hiren Kathritiya, Navnit Khambala, Jay alias Raja Aghera, and Meet Kalariya.
The case has been registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act, Section 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
What Comes Next
Investigators are continuing to trace the money trail both within India and overseas to identify additional beneficiaries and account handlers. Police have indicated that further arrests are likely as the operation progresses. The scale of the frozen accounts and the Dubai connection suggest the probe could expand significantly in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
But the structural detail is more alarming: a Dubai-anchored franchise model with tiered commissions and thousands of mule accounts suggests this is organised financial crime, not opportunistic gambling. The NCCRP data showing 542 fraud complaints points to real victims — ordinary people whose accounts were co-opted without their knowledge. Gujarat Police's probe is one of the more methodical cyber-financial investigations in recent memory, but the overseas link to 'Yuan' is the thread that will test the limits of domestic law enforcement. Whether the money trail across borders can be legally pursued will determine whether this case results in genuine accountability or stops at the foot soldiers.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat Police cricket betting case about?
It is an alleged illegal online cricket betting and cyber fraud operation uncovered by the Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell, involving suspected fraudulent transactions of more than ₹324 crore. The network reportedly operated across multiple states and had overseas links, using thousands of mule bank accounts to conceal funds generated from IPL-linked betting activities.
How many people have been arrested in the Gujarat betting fraud case?
Ten persons are currently in custody, including Vijay Kardani, Akash Nayak, Anil Kotak, Meet Kalariya, and others. The case names 47 accused in total, and police have indicated that further arrests are likely as the investigation continues.
What is the Dubai connection in the Gujarat cricket betting network?
Accused Akash Nayak is alleged to have operated under a franchise arrangement with a Dubai-based handler identified as 'Yuan', receiving a 40 per cent commission for managing betting-related financial flows. Nayak allegedly sub-franchised these operations to others across India at commissions of 20 to 25 per cent.
How were mule bank accounts used in this case?
The accused allegedly registered bank accounts in the names of unsuspecting individuals and used them to route funds from illegal betting activities, obscuring the money trail. Investigators found details of over 2,000 such accounts across two devices seized from the accused, with hundreds already frozen by law enforcement.
Under which laws has the case been registered?
The case has been registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act, Section 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. Police are continuing to trace the money trail within India and overseas.
