A shocking betting scam has come to light from Punjab amid the ongoing Tata Indian Premier League 2026 (Tata IPL 2026) and it is now growing bigger day by day. Earlier it seemed to be a small local activity, but now it has turned into a big money racket.
Khanna Police has unearthed lakhs of rupees related to illegal betting during IPL matches. Before the Punjab case, the police had already taken action at two places in the IPL betting case. In Neemuch Cantt, Madhya Pradesh, police have arrested a person for online betting on IPL matches.
In another case, the Task Force police in Warangal busted an illegal betting racket in Mills Colony area. They caught the people involved and seized ₹1.02 lakh in cash along with five smartphones used for betting transactions in the Telangana city.
Khanna police seize ₹42.3 lakh in IPL 2026 betting case
Now, as The Tribune reports, Khanna police have frozen bank accounts containing around ₹42.3 lakh, which are suspected to have been earned through illegal betting. Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police Darpan Ahluwalia said they are investigating every minute detail of these transactions to find out how the money came to be and who else is involved in this betting racket.
Also read: “Given a lot of runs”: Shubman Gill attacks bowlers after crushing defeat against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026
The case gained momentum after the police recently busted an online betting ring, resulting in the arrest of four people on April 12. The accused have been identified as Dinesh Chhabra, Karan Chhabra, Mahinder Singh and Naresh Kumar, all residents of Khanna.
Khanna police revealed that this group was running the betting business for a long time without being caught. Police recovered ₹44,000 in cash along with 11 mobile phones and a laptop during the raid. These gadgets were being used to handle betting activities, manage accounts and connect with users who were betting on IPL matches.
IPL betting scam has cross-border links
As the investigation progressed, the police realized that this was not just a local racket. Actually, a person belonging to Khanna is suspected to be the main mastermind of this entire network, who is believed to be currently hiding in Dubai. This has made the case international and agencies are now investigating cross-border links in this IPL betting scam.
Officials revealed that the accused used different bank accounts and online platforms to move and hide the money. They attracted people by offering easy ways to bet on IPL matches through international apps, making it even more difficult to keep track of them.
ALSO READ: “What kind of talent does Tilak have”: Hardik Pandya praises Tilak Verma after GT vs win in IPL 2026
Now the police is planning to go deeper into the matter. SSP Ahluwalia said that the bank accounts of family members and close contacts of the accused will also be examined as there is a strong possibility that more illegal money may be hidden there.
ED likely to get involved as police probe into hidden money increases
It is being said that big agencies like the Enforcement Directorate may soon join the investigation to trace the entire money transaction.
Police records revealed that the main accused, Dinesh and Naresh, were already involved in gambling-related cases, while others also have a criminal background, raising more concerns about how long this network has been active.
Taking strict action, the police have added a strict legal section under the Indian Justice Code in this case. This law is used to prosecute organized petty crime and if found guilty, the accused can face up to seven years in prison. This is the first time such a stringent section has been used in an IPL betting case in the region.
