Uttar Pradesh Betting Scam: 16 Arrested In ₹1.16 Crore Online Racket Using Fake ‘Lotus Gaming’ Platform

Lucknow: Sixteen people were arrested by Lucknow Police for allegedly duping thousands of people by luring them to invest money in online betting through a fake platform named Lotus Gaming. The accused were caught during a raid at Smriti Apartment in the Gudamba area.

Police recovered ₹1.16 crore in cash, 54 mobile phones, two currency counting machines, and other incriminating items from the spot. The gang had been operating for the past four months and is believed to have links across multiple states.

According to Police Commissioner Amarendra Kumar Sengar, a tip off was received about suspicious activities in flat number 403 of Smriti Apartment. Further investigation revealed the group was running a fraudulent online betting racket under the guise of investment schemes.

The arrested include residents of Chhattisgarh and Gujarat, such as Pramod Sahu, Sajid Ansari, Suhail Ashraf, Rakesh Kumar, Govindbhai Prajapati, and others. The suspects used mobile apps and websites to conduct the scam and target unsuspecting individuals.

Police are now tracking the wider network and other associates of the gang. As a reward for cracking the case, the Police Commissioner announced a cash prize of ₹1 lakh for the investigating team.