20 October,2023 06:23 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
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The Nagpur Police in Maharashtra conducted extensive searches across six locations in the Gondia district while conducting a probe into a significant online gaming fraud case. During these searches, the authorities successfully recovered 2.4 kilograms of gold and Rs 70 lakh in cash from the residence of a local doctor, stated a PTI report. The ongoing investigation has been launched in connection with a fraudulent online gaming scheme amounting to Rs 58 crore.
Nagpur Commissioner of Police (CP) Amitesh Kumar, addressing the press, provided insights into the recent developments. The raids, taking place at seven locations, including six in Gondia and one in Bhandara, are part of the broader investigation initiated to uncover the magnitude of the online gaming scam. This operation comes on the heels of the voluntary surrender of Anant alias Sontu Navratan Jain, the prime accused in the case, who had allegedly duped a Nagpur-based businessman of Rs 58 crore through the fraudulent gaming platform he created.
During the raid on the residence of Dr Gaurav Bagga in Gondia, the police seized 2.4 kilograms of gold and Rs 70 lakh in cash. The remaining five properties involved in the operation are owned by different individuals, stated the report.
A parallel operation is also underway at the residence of a bank employee in the Bhandara district. However, no seizures have been reported from that location as of now.
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As a result of the recovery of valuable assets during the operation on Friday, a fresh case has been registered under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 120(B) (criminal conspiracy) at the Gittikhadan police station in Nagpur.
The investigation into this case was initiated following a complaint by Nagpur-based businessman Vikrant Agrawal in July of this year. According to the report, Agrawal alleged that he had fallen victim to a fraudulent online gaming platform that manipulated gaming results, leading to substantial financial losses. The police took swift action and carried out raids at Jain's residence in Gondia, where they seized a significant amount of cash and gold on July 22.
In the subsequent operation on August 1, the police accessed Jain's lockers and recovered additional cash and gold. Prior to this, Jain had allegedly conspired with a bank official, Ankesh Khandelwal, as well as Dr Gaurav Bagga and his wife. This led to the opening of three new bank lockers in Dr Bagga's name, into which cash and gold from Jain's family lockers were transferred. However, the accused later removed the cash and gold from these lockers, taking them to undisclosed locations.
The case took a significant turn when Anant Jain, who had been on the run and even fled to Dubai, surrendered before the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) on October 16.
