States » WestPosted at: Oct 12 2026 5:34PM


Vasai Crime Branch Busts Online Sports Betting Network With Raids In Goa, Pune Ahilyanagar Road Seizes Equipment Worth Rs 9.86 Lakh

Mumbai, Oct 12 (UNI) The Vasai Crime Branch has arrested nine persons for allegedly operating an online betting racket involving cricket and other sports, following raids in North Goa and along the Pune-Ahilyanagar Road.
Police seized electronic equipment, SIM cards, ATM cards and banking documents collectively valued at approximately Rs 9.86 lakh. An investigation is underway to trace the financial transactions, bank accounts and other persons allegedly associated with the network.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandeep Doifode told reporters on Monday that the alleged betting operation was being run from Sunteck Hill View-1 and Lakeshore Society in Naigaon East.
According to police, the accused used SIM cards and bank accounts registered in other people's names to conduct betting-related financial transactions. Technical analysis of mobile phone numbers enabled investigators to trace the suspects to North Goa, following which a team from Vasai Crime Branch Unit-2, led by Senior Police Inspector Nitin Patil, conducted a raid in Goa.
During the operation, police arrested seven suspects identified as Furqan Ahmed Jasimuddin Ansari, 21, Nitin Mohankumar Makhijani, 45, Karan Suresh Tanwani, 21, Deepak Anil Shekhawat, 26, Hitik Vinod Khubchandani, 26, Rakesh Santramdas Wadhwani, 30, and Mohit Hansraj Popatani, 24. Investigators seized 33 mobile phones, four laptops, 78 passbooks and cheque books, 69 ATM cards, 40 SIM cards, two CCTV cameras and a notebook. The total value of the seized material was estimated at approximately Rs 9.86 lakh.
Police said questioning of the seven arrested suspects revealed information about additional persons allegedly connected with the betting network. Acting on these leads, investigators subsequently arrested Nicholas alias Nikki Narendra Rangari, 34, and Deepak Govindram Dhirwani, 44, from the Pune-Ahilyanagar Road. Their arrests brought the total number of persons taken into custody in connection with the case to nine.
Investigators are now examining the bank accounts allegedly used by the accused, the movement of funds through those accounts and the manner in which SIM cards registered in other people's names were obtained and utilised. Police are also attempting to establish the overall scale of the betting operation and determine whether additional individuals were involved in managing or facilitating the network.
Naigaon police have registered a First Information Report under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Information Technology Act and the Maharashtra Gambling Act. Further investigation is being conducted by Vasai Crime Branch Unit-2.
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Tags: #Vasai Crime Branch Busts Online Sports Betting Network With Raids In Goa# Pune Ahilyanagar Road Seizes Equipment Worth Rs 9.86 Lakh
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