Six Arrested in Wardha for Providing Bank Accounts to Betting Syndicates

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Wardha police have detained six individuals linked to a cybercrime operation that recruited economically vulnerable populations, including students and job seekers, to open bank accounts subsequently sold to online gambling platforms.

The Arrests and Investigation

The accused allegedly facilitated transactions amounting to multiple crores of rupees by exploiting these accounts. The investigation revealed that the suspects targeted individuals with offers of financial employment, persuading them to establish bank accounts. Upon account creation, the gang reportedly seized ATM cards, passbooks, and SIM cards, then sold these complete account packages to cybercriminals for between ₹10,000 and ₹15,000 per transaction.

Case Emergence and Key Details

The case emerged after a Wardha resident, Pratik Jitendra Lokhande, reported threats following a ₹40,000 withdrawal from his account. Subsequent analysis uncovered approximately ₹22 lakh in suspicious activity within a single month. Lokhande filed a formal complaint on April 30, 2026, prompting the arrest of six suspects: Tanmay Kishore Bhagat, Sunny Manoj Holani, Dipesh Rajkumar Sevlani, Ankur Subhash Jain, Pankaj alias Panku Rajesh Lalwani, and Dipesh Sawaldas Panjwani.

Cybercrime Networks and Regional Reach

Investigators confirmed that the accused sourced accounts from Wardha, Nagpur, and surrounding regions, channeling them to organized cybercrime networks operating across state lines. The operation mirrors broader patterns observed in India’s largest betting scandals, with platforms such as Mahadev App, Reddy Anna, Fairplay, Win Adda, Lotus 365, and Dubai Exchange implicated.

Cybersecurity Expert Insights

A cybersecurity analyst from Algoritha Security noted that cybercriminals increasingly exploit mule accounts to launder funds from online betting, fraud, and other illicit activities. These operations typically entice individuals with promises of quick earnings or employment before misappropriating their financial credentials. The expert emphasized that account holders may face legal repercussions if their accounts are used for illegal transactions, advising the public to never share bank details, ATM cards, passbooks, SIMs, or internet banking access with third parties.

Ongoing Probe and Implications

The Wardha syndicate reportedly replenished frozen accounts by generating new ones using stolen identities, a tactic that has prolonged the operational resilience of larger networks like Mahadev App despite sustained law enforcement efforts. Wardha police stated that the probe is ongoing, with additional arrests anticipated as investigators trace connections to interstate networks. The case underscores the growing sophistication of cybercrime ecosystems targeting financial systems through human intermediaries.