Indian police have arrested 11 individuals accused of facilitating access to the online betting platform Dafabet, following a multi-state investigation that highlighted the complex financial networks used to support offshore gambling operations targeting restricted markets.
The arrests were carried out on June 1st by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Telangana Crime Investigation Department (CID), with coordinated operations conducted across New Delhi, Gujarat, and Punjab. Authorities seized three luxury vehicles, eight laptops, two iPads, 26 mobile phones, five passports, and approximately INR321,000 ($3,700) in cash during the raids.
The investigation was launched after a software engineer from Karimnagar, Telangana, filed a complaint claiming he had lost around INR995,000 ($11,500) while using the Dafabet platform between January 2024 and January 2025. According to CID Director General Charu Sinha, investigators followed the movement of funds and uncovered a network involving 46 mule bank accounts spread across eight transaction layers. Analysis of banking data, mobile devices, email accounts, social media activity, and WhatsApp communications allegedly revealed a coordinated operation spanning multiple Indian states.
Those arrested included two suspected organizers of the betting network, three individuals accused of arranging mule accounts in exchange for commissions, two suspects allegedly involved in creating shell companies to receive funds, and four individuals who provided technical support. Investigators claim users were attracted through online promotions offering access to cricket betting, casino products, and the Aviator crash game. Initial winnings were allegedly paid out to establish trust before players were encouraged to deposit larger amounts.
Figures from India’s National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal indicate that the network has been linked to 225 complaints and 73 criminal cases across Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. Sinha noted that Telangana has so far registered 414 cases involving illegal betting applications. Authorities have blocked 108 gambling apps and geo-fenced 37 platforms in cooperation with local internet service providers as part of wider enforcement efforts against unauthorized online gambling.
Officials also said that 25 celebrities and social media influencers identified as having promoted illegal betting applications had been warned, with authorities cautioning that further endorsements could result in criminal proceedings. Dafabet was established in the Philippines in 2004 and is licensed through the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA). The brand also operates in regulated European markets through licensing arrangements in jurisdictions including the United Kingdom and Malta and has built international recognition through sponsorship agreements with major sports organizations, including English Premier League clubs and Celtic FC.
The Indian investigation has not alleged wrongdoing by licensed entities connected to the Dafabet brand, and authorities have not established the nature of any relationship between the arrested individuals and the platform’s official operators.
