IPL betting racket busted in Punjab: Rs 42.3 lakh frozen, four arrested

Khanna police invoked Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the FIR, a stringent provision dealing with petty organised crime. Officials said this marks the first time such a section has been applied in an IPL betting-related case in the region, with potential imprisonment up to seven years if convicted.

Khanna police froze bank accounts containing Rs 42.3 lakh allegedly linked to illegal cricket betting proceeds, according to The Tribune. The police say the amount is suspected to have been collected through betting activities and will scrutinise all transactions to trace the money trail and identify other beneficiaries. Investigations reveal an international dimension with a Khanna native believed to be hiding in Dubai as a suspected kingpin. The accused used multiple bank accounts and digital platforms to launder money, luring individuals to place bets on IPL matches through international apps. The probe will expand to examine bank accounts of family members and associates; central agencies including the Enforcement Directorate are likely to be brought in. Main accused Dinesh Chhabra and Naresh Kumar have prior Gambling Act cases; others have criminal backgrounds. The FIR also invokes Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, potentially carrying up to seven years in prison if convicted.

Khanna police busted a high-profile online betting network operating during the IPL and arrested four accused: Dinesh Chhabra, Karan Chhabra, Mahinder Singh, and Naresh Kumar, all residents of Khanna. Police had initially seized Rs 44,000 in cash, along with 11 mobile phones and a laptop used to facilitate the operation.