Tinsukia. In a major breakthrough, the Tinsukia police in Assam, recovered cash worth Rs 62,80,890 from the residence of one Nikhil Agarwal from Parbotia locality in Tinsukia town on Thursday evening, besides securing statements from several victims of IPL online betting.
The recovered amount is believed to be proceeds from online cricket betting operations orchestrated by the Beria brothers. Agarwal has been apprehended and taken to Tinsukia police station.
Confirming the development, the superintendent of Tinsukia police, Abhijit Gurav said, on being led by one of the accused, Bikash Beria, a team of police has recovered a huge amount of cash kept concealed in the residence of Nikhil Agarwal of Tinsukia. “Police has intimated Income Tax authorities to launch investigation from their end,” added Gurav.
Speaking to EastMojo, Gurav said, “We have received statements from several victims, who willingly came forward and disclosed how they lost money in IPL betting. “Though few victims have requested to keep anonymity.”
According to sources, Bikash Beria disclosed during interrogation that his brother, Nitin Beria, was responsible for distributing user IDs and passwords to customers, facilitating their access to the online betting platform.
“On successful login, one needs to buy coins and for Rs 10000 one gets 100 coins. Nitin is on the run,” sources said. Nitin Beria is currently absconding.
Sources said, “Bikash Beria broke down to some extent during police investigation and not only led police to the recovery of huge cash but also revealed about a few digital devices which he used during the betting”.
“This digital device will be key to unearthing the entire racket and forming strong evidence of the crime. However, the police are yet to recover them,” sources added, “Bikash Beria allegedly owns a lot of property in and out of the state including a recently purchased resort in Goa. Police are trying to gather documents to establish the connection.”
Beria’s brother’s network allegedly runs into a few thousand customers, mostly youths, many of whom have become victims of this online menace running open until the crackdown started a few days ago.
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On Tuesday, the Court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Tinsukia rejected the bail plea of Bikash Beria and sent him to three days of police remand after a strong case was put up by Tinsukia police and government advocate in the court room.
It remains to be seen if the Chief Judicial Magistrate grant bail to Bikash Beria or send him to further police remand given the huge recovery of cash and other digital devices, as he faces the court on Friday.
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