Bhavnagar IPL Betting Racket Busted: A major breakthrough in an alleged online cricket betting operation has led to the arrest of a man in Bhavnagar district, with investigators uncovering links to a suspected betting network based in Jamnagar.
The action was carried out by the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Bhavnagar Police, which conducted a late-night raid in Vartej village after receiving information about illegal betting activities being conducted through online platforms during live cricket matches.
Tip-Off Leads Police to Suspect
According to police officials, they received specific intelligence indicating that a person was accepting and facilitating bets on ongoing cricket matches through a mobile-based online betting platform. The alleged activity was reportedly taking place near the bus stand area of Vartej, close to a cemetery on Fariyadka Road.
Acting on the information, an LCB team, accompanied by independent witnesses as part of the legal procedure, conducted a raid at the location. During the operation, officers detained a 38-year-old local businessman identified as Jignesh Ghanshyamsinh Gohil, a resident of Darbargadh in Vartej.
Police said the suspect was found using his mobile phone in circumstances that raised suspicion of active betting operations. He was taken into custody for further questioning.
Betting Activity Linked to IPL Match
During the search, investigators seized an iPhone 17 Pro Max valued at approximately ₹1 lakh. Examination of the device allegedly revealed access to an online betting portal identified as “allpanel777.now.”
Authorities claim that the platform was being used to place wagers on a live Indian Premier League (IPL) match involving Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals. Police also reported finding betting options related to an international women’s cricket fixture between Pakistan Women and West Indies Women.
The discovery suggests that the betting operation was not limited to a single match and may have been catering to users interested in multiple domestic and international cricket events.
Large Betting Balance Detected
According to investigators, the online account accessed through the platform showed a balance of nearly ₹4.99 lakh. Police believe the account was being used to manage betting transactions and wagers placed by customers.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly told police that he operated the betting account using a designated user ID and password provided through a larger network. Investigators claim he functioned as a local operator who received sub-accounts from a master betting account and then facilitated betting for individual customers.
Such online betting structures often involve multiple layers of operators, making enforcement more challenging and allowing betting networks to operate across different cities and districts.
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Jamnagar Connection Under Investigation
A key development in the Bhavnagar IPL Betting Racket case emerged when the accused reportedly disclosed the name of a person from Jamnagar who allegedly supplied the betting credentials and account access.
Police said the suspect identified Divyarajsinh alias Divubha Jadeja of Jamnagar as the individual who provided the betting ID and arranged an account balance reportedly worth ₹8 lakh. Investigators believe weekly settlements of profits and losses were conducted between the two parties.
The revelation has prompted authorities to expand the investigation beyond Bhavnagar. Efforts are currently underway to trace and apprehend the alleged mastermind believed to be operating from Jamnagar.
Case Registered Under Gambling Laws
Bhavnagar Police have seized the mobile phone used in the alleged operation and registered a case against both individuals under relevant provisions of the state’s gambling prohibition laws.
Officials say the investigation will now focus on identifying additional participants, determining the scale of the operation, and examining whether more users or agents were connected to the network.
The Bhavnagar IPL Betting Racket case highlights the growing challenge faced by law enforcement agencies as betting activities increasingly shift to digital platforms. With online betting websites and mobile-based operations becoming more sophisticated, police departments across the country continue to intensify efforts to track and dismantle illegal gambling networks linked to major sporting events such as the IPL.
Further investigation is ongoing, and authorities have indicated that additional arrests may follow based on the evidence collected during the probe.