GUWAHATI, May 28: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati zonal office, conducted search operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 on Tuesday night at multiple premises in Guwahati, Tinsukia and New Delhi in connection with the investigation into an illegal IPL cricket betting racket and laundering of the proceeds of crime generated therefrom.
According to a statement issued by the directorate, ED initiated the investigation on the basis of FIR registered by the Crime Branch police station, Guwahati, against Deepesh Bajoria, Ronak Bajoria, Rajesh Jain and others for offences under various Sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Assam Game and Betting Act, 1970.
Subsequently, an addendum to the ECIR was recorded on March 30, 2026, incorporating two further FIRs registered by the Tinsukia police station against Bikash Beria, Nitin Beria, Suprit Biswas and others, pertaining to similar illegal IPL betting operations carried on by an interlinked syndicate.
“Investigation has revealed that the accused persons were operating a well-organised, hierarchical and technologically enabled illegal betting and gambling racket on IPL cricket matches. Bets were solicited, accepted and settled through mobile phones using encrypted messaging platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram, and through the offshore online betting platforms,” the statement issued by ED said.
“The proceeds of betting were received and disbursed in cash as well as through digital channels (UPI/bank transfers), and were thereafter layered, parked and projected as untainted property through a network of family members and associates spanning Guwahati, Tinsukia and Delhi,” it said.
Searches were conducted on the residential premises of Deepesh Bajoria, Ronak Bajoria, Rajesh Jain, Vikash Agarwal, Suprit Biswas, Bikash Beria, Nitin Beria and Durga Prasad Beria, and at a commercial premises operating under the name “Roycee” (previously “Playboy”) in Guwahati.
“During the search operations, several incriminating evidence, mostly contained in digital devices (including mobile phones and other electronic storage media) – containing records of betting transactions, coded communications with punters and sub-agents, and digital trails of the movement of proceeds of crime – have been found and seized,” it said.
“{Unaccounted cash amounting to Rs 13 lakh has also been found and seized from the searched premises. Three high-end motor vehicles, namely one Mercedes-Benz car, one MG Hector car and one Toyota Fortuner car, suspected to have been acquired out of the proceeds of crime, have also been seized during the search operations,” it added.
Further, several bank accounts which were found to have been used in the illegal IPL betting activities and for routing the proceeds of crime have been frozen to prevent any further movement or dissipation of the said proceeds. Further investigation is underway.
