GUWHATAI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Guwahati Zonal Office-I, arrested Deepesh Bajoria, a resident of Zoo Road, Guwahati, on September 19 in a money-laundering investigation linked to an illegal cricket-betting syndicate that operated during Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons across Assam and the wider northeastern region.
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Bajoria was arrested under Section 19(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with ECIR/GWZO-I/06/2023, dated March 30, 2023, and its addenda. He was produced before the CBI Court No. 3, Guwahati, designated as the Special PMLA Court, which remanded him to six days of ED custody.
The ED said its investigation found that Bajoria acted as a principal bookie in the syndicate and used online betting platforms Skyexchange and Winner7, along with encrypted messaging channels, for soliciting, accepting and settling bets.
According to the ED, proceeds generated from the betting activity were routed through the bank account of M/s DRM Coke, a partnership firm in which Bajoria is a partner.
The account, which was held out as belonging to a non-operational firm, recorded credits of approximately ₹28.12 crore and debits of approximately ₹28.03 crore between April 19, 2022, and May 15, 2026, the ED said. It said the account was primarily used to route betting funds.
The ECIR was recorded on the basis of FIR No. 12/2021, registered by the Crime Branch, Guwahati, on October 11, 2021, along with connected FIRs registered by Tinsukia Police Station and Panbazar Police Station, Guwahati.
The FIRs relate to offences under Sections 120B, 406 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, read with Sections 13 and 14 of the Assam Game and Betting Act, 1970.
The ED conducted searches at Bajoria's premises on May 26 under Section 17 of the PMLA. It said property documents, luxury vehicle records and other material were recovered, while digital data from email accounts and mobile devices connected with him was also imaged.
The ED said the material collected during the investigation and statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA indicated Bajoria's involvement in the acquisition, possession, use, transfer and projection of proceeds of crime as untainted property.
The ED also said its investigation had identified substantial financial transactions and movement of funds through various persons and entities. It said discrepancies were found between explanations provided regarding certain financial transactions and evidence subsequently gathered during the investigation.
The source, movement, utilisation and ultimate beneficiaries of the funds are under investigation, the ED said.
Further investigation is underway.