Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown, Rourkela Police on Saturday arrested four persons in connection with a large-scale illegal lottery racket and seized Rs 25 lakh in cash along with thousands of fake lottery tickets.
According to Rourkela SP Nitesh Wadhwani, intelligence inputs revealed that the accused were sourcing lottery tickets from other states and selling them illegally across the city.
“Our investigation shows that the scam had spread across Rourkela, with over 60 agents operating in various areas, including small shops. All the lottery tickets sold here were fake,” he said.
Two of the arrested individuals have been identified as key figures in the racket. Preliminary investigations indicate that they have been active since 2008. The operation primarily targeted economically disadvantaged people, with daily lottery sales reaching 28,000 tickets.
The tickets were sold in the market for Rs 6 and Rs 10 each, and buyers could win lakhs if their ticket numbers matched the drawn numbers. While most agents were unaware that the tickets were illegal, those involved in wholesale distribution knew about the scam from the start.
SP Wadhwani said raids are ongoing in other parts of the city.
“So far, four accused have been apprehended, cash worth Rs 25 lakh has been seized, and investigations are continuing. Interstate accomplices were also involved, making this a large-scale racket,” SP Wadhwani added.
