Nagpur/Gondia: In the wake of a significant raid and the subsequent seizure of cash and valuables worth crores of rupees from the residence of international bookie Ananth Jain, known as Sontu, the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Gondia, Nikhil Pingale, has issued a crucial advisory to the public. The advisory emphasizes the need to protect individuals from falling prey to fraudulent digital gaming, gambling, and betting apps that entice people from various age groups and backgrounds.
The recent raid at Ananth Jain’s residence in Gondia revealed a staggering amount of cash and valuables. This discovery has raised alarm bells about the thriving underground industry of illegal gaming and betting. Sontu’s success, accumulating crores from a single ‘doctored app,’ has highlighted the extent of this issue.
The advisory issued by SP Nikhil Pingale underlines a critical point: Fraud gaming apps are deliberately designed to manipulate punters and players. These apps are programmed in a way that punters often lose substantial sums of money while only winning modest amounts. This unethical practice preys on the vulnerabilities of individuals and exploits their desire for quick gains.
Following the raids on Sontu’s residence, Nagpur Commissioner of Police, Amitesh Kumar, hinted at the widespread manipulation of gaming apps to deceive bettors, punters, and gamers. Tragically, a young punter named Neeraj Mankani took his own life in Gondia after suffering heavy losses on betting apps. Subsequent investigations led to the booking of two bookies, Chirag Phunde and Abhijeet, for abetment to suicide based on a complaint filed by Mankani’s mother.
Sontu popularized the ‘Diamondexchange@com’ app, linked to a Dubai-based operator with Rajkot connections, in Gondia and Nagpur. Meanwhile, Neeraj Mankani was engaged with ‘Mahadeo app,’ ‘Reddy app,’ and ‘Gajanan app.’ These doctored apps are intricately designed to deceive punters. They initially allow users to win but later manipulate them into substantial losses, ultimately robbing them of their money.
SP Pingale has expressed his intention to seek assistance from the Nagpur police’s cyber cell experts to combat this growing issue.The advisory issued by the Gondia police underscores the fact that these fraudulent apps often closely resemble legitimate platforms of reputable companies. These apps provide various options for gaming, including cricket and football betting, carom, pool, card games, and more, to lure individuals into the world of gambling.
SP Pingale acknowledges that dedicated cyber teams are working diligently to dismantle these criminal networks, but he stresses that public awareness is vital in preventing individuals from falling into the trap of these addictive and deceitful apps.
