HYDERABAD: A major international online gaming and satta betting racket was busted in Hyderabad, with five individuals arrested for running an illegal online betting operation from a rented flat in Madhura Nagar. The arrests were made by the Commissioner’s Task Force, Central Zone Team, in coordination with Madhura Nagar Police, following a tip-off.
The accused have been identified as Sonule Srikanth, Gurle Harish, Gurle Satish Kumar, Sonule Thirupathi, and Ade Vinod, all residents of Kagaz Nagar in Kumaram Bheem District, Telangana. According to the police, the group, who are friends and carpenters by profession, had developed a betting habit and used their experience to set up an online racket targeting punters through gaming websites and social media platforms.
They allegedly rented a flat in Sri Divya Enclave, Ellareddy Guda, Madhura Nagar, three months ago for ₹25,000 a month. From there, they operated betting activities by creating online portals, WhatsApp groups, and a YouTube channel named TRIKAL MATKA @ gskmatka5478, luring users into investing money in international online gaming and Satta/Matka betting schemes.
Police said the accused opened bank accounts and obtained SIM cards using the identities of underprivileged individuals in exchange for money. These accounts were used to receive funds from victims, who were first offered small returns to gain trust. Once victims increased their investments, they began losing money as the games were rigged.
The gang also created fake promotional videos featuring individuals posing as successful punters claiming large profits from minimal bets. These videos were shared across platforms to entice more victims.
The accused accepted betting amounts via digital payment platforms including QR codes, Google Pay, PhonePe, and UPI numbers.
During the raid on March 20, police seized several items used in the racket, including Three MacBooks (used to run gaming websites); one tablet; two colour printers; 50 betting pamphlets; Three betting charts; 18 mobile phones; ₹1,55,000 in cash and ₹2,13,697 in betting-related bank accounts
Investigators say the group charged ₹1,000 as a registration fee for number predictions. They ran multiple online operations, targeting punters attracted to international online gaming.
All five accused have been handed over to Madhura Nagar Police for further investigation.
