Hyderabad: The Telangana CID executed a major operation against illegal online betting across Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab. They arrested eight main operators and collected important digital evidence. They also warned celebrities and influencers promoting these activities that they could face legal action.
CID teams targeted six sites in these states on Monday and Tuesday. They focused on individuals using mobile apps like Taj0077, Fairplay.live, Andhra365, Vlbook, Telugu365, and Yes365 for illegal betting. These apps attracted many users, especially young people, by promising fast money. The operators used advanced technology to stay hidden. During the raids, officers seized servers, hardware, and storage devices with key transaction and user data.
Investigations revealed a network across different states. While local operators handled day-to-day activities, the main organizers are likely based abroad. These apps allowed illegal betting on events like cricket and casinos, using international payment systems and legal loopholes. This led to large amounts of money leaving the country. Telangana CID is using digital forensics to track financial transactions and communications to find the masterminds running these syndicates from afar.
The operation also highlighted ongoing probes into celebrities like Vijay Devarakonda, Navdeep, Raashi Khanna, and social media figures who advertised these platforms. Government sources noted that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) previously filed cases against 29 Telugu actors and influencers for illegal endorsements under the Public Gambling Act, 1867. Many were questioned about their roles and promotional activities.
Police in Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and other districts are charging these public figures, sending a clear message that they are serious about tackling illegal betting and those who legitimize it. Telangana’s Chief Minister, A. Revanth Reddy, announced a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle betting app cases and improve laws, promising tougher penalties to prevent such crimes. Although Telangana banned online betting in 2017, the old system was not effective. New legal changes are being suggested for better enforcement, showing the importance of stopping online gambling.
Authorities are warning the public to watch out for these scams. They encourage victims or witnesses to report crimes via official channels, ensuring quick action and protection against fraud. CID continues to investigate, looking at the data seized, identifying global connections, and working with cybercrime teams to bring justice to victims and stop the betting industry from growing.
This multi-state crackdown marks a significant step in Telangana’s battle against cyber gambling and illegal betting, showcasing advanced technology use and strong legal action for public benefit.
