KATHMANDU: A major international online betting scandal, during the Nepal Premier League, a has come to light, with Nepali police arresting nine Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen during a series of secret and sudden operations. The arrests followed growing suspicions of illegal betting during the league matches.
According to police, the nine Indian suspects are from the state of Andhra Pradesh and are aged between 19 and 35. Preliminary investigations indicate that the group was running an organized online betting network during the league matches, with possible operations extending beyond Nepal.
In a late-night raid at a rented house in Samakhusi, Kathmandu, police apprehended eight individuals in the act. Authorities seized 15 mobile phones, laptops, digital records, betting data, and other evidence highlighting the network’s scope.
A day earlier, a separate operation had led to the arrest of one Indian and one Nepali citizen, bringing the total number of arrests to ten. Police have indicated that further raids are possible as more individuals appear to be involved.
SP Kaji Kumar Acharya, a police spokesperson, said that initial investigations show the group was involved in illegal betting worth around 500,000 Nepali rupees. However, other digital evidence suggests that the total financial scale of the network could reach approximately 25 million rupees (around 175,000 USD).
Investigators also discovered that the group was using cryptocurrency for illegal transactions, complicating the case due to the difficulty of tracking crypto transfers.
The league administration has expressed serious concern over the betting scandal, contacted Nepali police, and assured full cooperation. Officials stated they would take strong measures to restore the league’s reputation.
Police have suggested that the suspects may have links to larger betting networks in India, and the investigation is ongoing. Additional digital devices are being sent for forensic examination.
Investigating teams noted that significant data remains to be recovered from secret apps, WhatsApp groups, and crypto wallets. Authorities fear that the group may have also been betting on other international leagues beyond the Nepal Premier League.
Given the sensitive nature of the case, police are coordinating with IT experts, the cybercrime unit, and potentially Interpol. Further developments are expected within the next 48 hours.
Also Read: Growing trend of online gambling
