Nagpur: In a late-evening crackdown on illegal betting, Crime Branch Unit No. 2 of Nagpur Police busted a cricket betting racket operating from a luxury bungalow in Hingna area and arrested four persons red-handed while they were allegedly taking bets on an international T-20 match.
According to police, at around 6.20 pm on February 13, 2026, officers of Crime Branch Unit No. 2 received specific information that illegal betting was being conducted at “The Imperial Grand Bungalow – I2” located at Kothewada, Gumgaon, under Hingna police limits.
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Feb 14th, 2026 - Time 11.45Hrs
The betting was reportedly linked to the T-20 World Cup 2026 match between UAE and Canada.
Acting swiftly on the tip-off, the Crime Branch team reached the spot along with panch witnesses and conducted a raid. During the operation, four accused were found allegedly accepting and placing bets through mobile phones.
The arrested accused have been identified as:
1. Rahul Ramchandra Wadhwani (36), resident of Tilak Nagar, Bilaspur (present at the spot)
2. Badal Madhukar Kurhadkar (35), resident of Golibar Chowk, Timki, Nagpur
3. Lomesh Rajesh Arora (26), resident of Plot No. 26, Galli No. 2, Chitar Oli, Kotwali, Nagpur
4. Amjad Khan Nawab Khan Pathan (48), resident of Bhaldarpura, Natik Chowk, Ganeshpeth, Nagpur
During the raid, police seized:
• 2 laptops
• 14 mobile phones of different companies
• Other electronic equipment
The total value of the seized material is estimated at Rs 3,73,500.
Police said the accused were operating the betting racket through mobile phones, accepting wagers from customers during the live cricket match.
A case has been registered against the accused at Hingna Police Station under Sections 4 and 5 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act.
Further investigation is underway to trace the financial transactions, identify other members of the betting network, and ascertain whether the racket has links beyond the city.
Police officials stated that the crackdown is part of ongoing efforts to curb illegal online and offline betting activities during major sporting events.
