Police in Pimpri-Chinchwad have registered a case against three individuals for their alleged involvement in an illegal online betting operation centered around a recent cricket match between India and South Africa. The illicit activity was conducted through a mobile application named 'Taj777'.
One Detained, Two Others Wanted
The action was taken on Saturday, December 7, 2025. Following a specific tip-off, officers briefly detained Bhavesh Pradip Lakhwani, a 25-year-old resident of Vijay Apartment in Pimpri, near Waghere Park Society around 6:50 PM. During the operation, authorities seized a high-end mobile phone valued at approximately Rs 1 lakh from Lakhwani's possession for further investigation.
Assistant Police Inspector Digambar Atigre confirmed that a notice has been issued to Lakhwani to aid the ongoing probe. The police are currently searching for two other accused, identified only as Pande and Kiran, who are alleged to have been part of the betting ring alongside Lakhwani.
Legal Charges and Previous Crackdown
All three accused have been formally booked under relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act and the Indian Telegraph Act. This legal move underscores the serious view authorities are taking against digital gambling platforms.
This incident is not an isolated one for the Pimpri-Chinchwad police. About a week prior, the force arrested three other men for allegedly running a similar illegal online betting racket. That operation used a banned web application called 'Reddy Anna'. The arrested individuals in that case were identified as Rajendra Ladual Gadri (20) from Rajasthan, Tejeshwar Rao (25) from Chhattisgarh, and Chandankumar Rajendra Pande (30) from Uttar Pradesh. They were apprehended at a rented apartment in Mulshi while taking bets on the same India-South Africa cricket series.
A Pattern of Digital Gambling Enforcement
The back-to-back cases highlight a focused crackdown by law enforcement on illegal online betting networks, particularly those exploiting popular sporting events like international cricket matches. The use of dedicated mobile and web applications like 'Taj777' and 'Reddy Anna' demonstrates the organized nature of these digital gambling operations.
The police action sends a clear message about the risks and legal consequences associated with organizing or participating in such unauthorized betting activities. The investigations into both rings are ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the networks behind these apps.
