KATHMANDU, Feb 3: Police have arrested 24 individuals, including 10 Indians and 14 Nepalis, for operating an online betting business from two rented houses in Sanepa, Lalitpur. According to SP Kaji Kumar Acharya of the Valley Crime Investigation Office, the group rented two houses, one for living and the other for carrying out the betting operation.
The arrested Indian citizens are Ajit Kumar, Mukesh Mandal, Manoj Kumar Bajaj, Sumit Khatri, Prabhat Kumar Shah, Om Prakash Khatri, Rabi Prakash Bishwakarma, Rabi Abhishek Ojha, Shivam Pandey, and Manoj Kumar. The arrested Nepali citizens are Tank Bahadur Pachai, Tej Bogati, Laxman Bista, Avinash GC, Hari Bahadur GC, Samir Khadka, Bikram Pachai, Ashok GC, Bhishma Oli, Hemant Lohani Gautam, Gopal Bista, Sujan GC, Hemant Dhami, and Rabi Bista.
The group reportedly made a turnover of Rs 3.047 billion over the past six months through online betting via various apps. The arrested individuals were found with multiple mobile phones and laptops. They are accused of transferring money from the losing bettors to the winning accounts and maintaining records based on messages received from India.
The suspects admitted they were paid Rs 25,000 to 30,000 for maintaining these records. The police are now investigating charges related to betting, cryptocurrency, and money laundering.