Bhubaneswar: The cyber wing of the state crime branch arrested two men for defrauding a Kalinganagar resident in Jajpur district of Rs1.08 crore through an elaborate online betting scam.
The accused have been identified as Sk Wasiul Islam alias Rohan (29), a resident of Raipur under Contai Police Station in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district and Jyoti Prakash Pallai (36) of Press Colony, Unit-III, Bhubaneswar.
Islam is reportedly engaged in the sports goods and cashew business, while Pallai, a diploma holder in engineering, is involved in construction work.
According to an official press release, the case was registered following a complaint filed by a Kalinganagar (Jajpur) resident on May 1.
The victim alleged that he was defrauded by cybercriminals who lured him via a fake cricket betting website link found on Google. The fraud took place over a period spanning from August 2022 to January 2025.
Initially enticed with small returns, the victim gradually transferred Rs 1.08 crore through UPI payments, using not only his account but also those of his wife, friends, and staff. The money was siphoned off under the pretext of doubling or tripling returns from online bets.
Following an FIR lodged at the Cyber Police Station, CID-Crime Branch, a team led by DySP Anila Anand launched a probe, acting on multiple complaints received through the 1930 Cyber Helpline and the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal.
Investigators revealed that the accused were operating fake gaming and phishing websites to collect sensitive banking details. These were then used to create mule bank accounts and transfer large sums. Several bank accounts have since been frozen.
Seized items include passbooks, cheques, mobile phones, SIM cards, GST certificates, Aadhaar and PAN cards—evidence of a well-orchestrated fraud under the guise of online gaming.
Further investigation is underway to trace other members of the racket and follow the money trail.
