Online Gambling Is Organised Crime Having Significant Impact On Country’s Economy: Chhattisgarh High Court Denies Bail In Cricket Betting Case
The Chhattisgarh High Court was considering the bail applications filed by the applicants, who were booked under the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act.
Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal, Chhattisgarh High Court
While observing that online gambling is an organised crime, having various facets and a significant impact on the economy of the country, the Chhattisgarh High Court has rejected the bail applications of three accused involved in the 2020 Cricket World Cup match betting.
The High Court was considering the bail applications filed by the applicants, who were arrested in connection with a case registered under Section 7 of the Chhattisgarh Gambling Prohibition Act, 2022 and Section 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The Single Bench of Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal held, “Online gambling is an organized crime having various facets and a significant impact on the economy of the country. In view of the gravity of the offence and the manner in which the applicants are involved in the alleged offence, they are not entitled to be released on bail.”
Advocate Anchala Rathore represented the applicant while Panel Lawyer Vikhyat Arora represented the Respondent.
Factual Background
The police, while on patrolling duty, received secret information that two persons travelling in a white car were engaged in online gambling during the 2020 Cricket World Cup match. The police reached the suspected place and found two persons sitting in the said car, who admitted their involvement in online gambling. From the accused Shaiky Darda, 8 mobile phones, 4 passbooks, 12 ATM cards, and cash amounting to Rs. 14,100 were seized. From the accused Prateek Kumar Vadhwani, three mobile phones and cash amounting to Rs. 10,500 were seized. From the mobile phones of the accused persons, betting platforms were found, and records of online gambling were recovered. Thereafter, printouts of the screenshots were taken. The accused persons, in their memorandum statements, disclosed the involvement of other accused persons. They further disclosed that their associates were running online gambling operations from Goa.
During the investigation, it was also found that various bank accounts in the names of different persons were linked to the mobile number of the accused Shaiky Darda, and the mobile phones of the other accused persons were also connected with bank accounts of various persons. Thereafter, the FIR was registered and, after investigation, a charge-sheet was filed against seven accused persons, including the applicants, Prakashchand Miri, Saket Jagwani, and Dhananjay Kumar Vaishnav.
Reasoning
The Bench took note of the seizure of various mobile phones, ATM cards, and passbooks from the accused and further noticed that the mobile numbers were interlinked with the bank accounts of various persons through which transactions were being made with respect to online gambling. The Bench further considered the material available in the charge-sheet against the present applicants and the screenshots from the mobile phones.
It was also noticed that one mobile phone was seized from the applicant Prakash Chand Miri, one laptop, one electronic notebook, 16 mobile phones, and one router were seized from the applicant Dhananjay Kumar Vaishnav and two laptops, 17 mobile phones, one Wi-Fi router were seized from the accused Saket Jagwani.
Thus, considering such aspects as well as the gravity of the offence, the Bench rejected the bail applications.
Cause Title: Prakashchand Miri v. State Of Chhattisgarh (Neutral Citation: 2026:CGHC:25249)
Appearance
Applicant: Advocates Anchala Rathore, Santosh Kumar Pandey
Respondent: Panel Lawyer Vikhyat Arora