Lucknow police seized ₹1.07 crore in cash, along with 103 mobile devices and extensive financial paraphernalia, during raids on a suspected online betting and fraud operation. Authorities arrested 16 individuals, marking a sharp escalation in local efforts to stem digital crime.
Law enforcement officials conducted a coordinated search at a flat in Jankipuram’s Smriti Apartments, uncovering a high-tech scam reportedly run through a fake betting app called “Lotus Gaming”. Telegram channels were used to promote the scheme, which falsely promised quick returns to victims before siphoning off deposits into fraudulent accounts.
Loot Hidden in Plain Sight
According to Lucknow Police Commissioner Amrendra K. Sengar, the haul included over ₹1 crore in bundled notes, 79 ATM cards, 22 bank passbooks, 13 cheque books, a POS machine, two note-counting devices, and Aadhaar, etc. Some documents were forged. The elaborate setup revealed front-line operators who enticed depositors, and backend controllers managing transactions and identity theft.
Sixteen suspects, twelve from Chhattisgarh and four from Gujarat, were detained on charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the IT Act. Police confirmed that rented and fake accounts, many under economically vulnerable individuals, were used for swift money transfers before withdrawals.
A Sophisticated Crime Network
The scam unfolded in two distinct tiers. Young operatives recruited users through enticing reward promises. Simultaneously, backend controllers laundered money through ATMs and UPI transfers, often converting it into cryptocurrency to evade detection. Commissions for local helpers were paid promptly, while the bulk funds were moved offshore.
Police are actively tracing links to the app’s creators, backend managers, and forged-document suppliers. The investigation is expected to expand as financial logs and device data undergo forensic scrutiny.