Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Noida Police has busted an interstate gang involved in online betting fraud, arresting six people. In a crucial breakthrough, cops recovered a mobile phone that may help unravel the mystery behind the repeated bomb threats to schools in Delhi. Officials said the device contains several threatening messages sent to the schools.
The device surfaced during the Special Task Force’s (STF) probe into a recovery email linked to the threats. It has been sent for forensic examination. Investigators are now examining whether there is a direct connection between the threatening emails and the illegal betting network.
advertisement
Several schools in the national capital have received bomb threats multiple times in recent months, disrupting academic activities. The latest episode occurred on Thursday when fresh threat emails were sent to Delhi schools.
The specific case under which the six individuals, including Nepali nationals, were arrested pertains to the investigation into a threat message received by Delhi schools on January 23.
During the investigation, police found that the threatening email had originated from the United States. However, technical analysis revealed that the linked recovery email showed connections to Bangladesh and India. Further digital tracking led investigators to a location in Greater Noida, following which the STF arrested the accused on Friday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Amish Jung Karki (Nepal), Anant Kumar (Agra), Divyashu (Bihar), Sahil Kumar (Bihar), Lekhnath Sharma (Nepal), and Kedarnath (Nepal). Amish, the key accused, is a Nepal native who was reportedly educated in Australia.
Police said the accused were operating an illegal online betting network under the guise of a call centre from Indirapuram in Ghaziabad and Shahberi in Greater Noida. During raids at the suspected premises, many electronic devices were seized.
Interrogation revealed that the gang used fake email IDs with American-sounding names to approach customers. Many such email accounts were found logged into the seized mobile phones and laptops. The accused allegedly used VPN services and fake GPS location applications to conceal their real locations.
The group primarily targeted citizens in the United States, India, and Nepal, persuading them to invest in online betting schemes and collecting substantial sums of money. They were also allegedly providing technical support to several betting platforms.
Police recovered four laptops, 22 mobile phones, two Nepali passports, two fake Aadhaar cards, four PAN cards, 16 debit and credit cards, a cheque book, a Nepali PAN card, a citizenship identity card, a driving licence, and Rs 19,500 in cash.
Further investigations are underway to identify other members of the network and possible foreign links. Police are also probing how many people were duped, the total amount siphoned off, and the duration of the operation.
– Ends
Inputs by Arun Tyagi in Noida
Must Watch
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
