TLDR
- Nepal police raided a rented house in Pokhara’s Sedi area and arrested eight people.
- The operation is linked to a larger betting network based in India.
- The group allegedly ran the network’s 27th branch and used Telegram and WhatsApp to manage bets and payments.
- Police say more than NPR 200 million moved through the operation since May.
- Seven of the eight suspects arrested are Indian nationals; one is Nepalese.
Police in Nepal have dismantled an online betting operation they say was tied to a criminal network based in India. The raid took place in Sedi, Pokhara, at a rented seven-room house.
Eight people were arrested during the search. Investigators believe the group had been running illegal gambling services from the property for several months.
Kaski Police launched the operation after receiving intelligence about suspicious activity at the house. Officers found the location was set up to support a large betting business rather than a small operation.
Authorities say the house functioned as the 27th branch of a wider network. That suggests the group operated in multiple locations, not just Pokhara.
The suspects allegedly used Telegram and WhatsApp to recruit customers. These platforms were also used to send betting links and manage payments.
Users could reportedly place bets on cricket and football matches. Online casino games were also offered through the service.
Police estimate the network processed more than NPR 200 million in transactions since May. That figure covers just a few months of activity.
Investigators also allege the operation generated daily profits between INR 300,000 and INR 400,000. Officers say the money moved through rented Indian bank accounts.
Suspects Include Seven Indian Nationals
The person believed to be running the operation is Satyam Singh, a 34-year-old Indian national. He was arrested along with Nepalese citizen Dinesh Singh Bohora, 31, from Darchula.
Six other men were also taken into custody. Five of them are Indian nationals: Harsh Umrete, Vishal Chaud, Jaman Singh Tamar, Vikran Singh, and Ajitesh Kumar Mishra.
A sixth Indian national, Satyam Rajput, was also arrested at the property. Police have not released details on how each suspect was connected to the operation’s day-to-day running.
During the search, officers seized equipment used to run the business. This included seven laptops, four mini desktop computers, and six monitors.
Police also recovered 31 smartphones and 34 active Indian SIM cards. Backup power equipment was found at the property as well.
Investigation Into Financial Network Continues
All eight suspects remain in police custody while the case moves forward. Investigators are now focused on tracing how money moved across the Nepal-India border.
Police are also working to identify any other people connected to the operation. That includes checking whether other branches of the network are active elsewhere in Nepal.
The case remains open, and no additional details on charges have been released yet.
