PANAJI, November 12 : An alleged international online betting and cyber-fraud racket is operating from Goa, with nearly 50 persons reportedly taking shelter in two major offshore casinos, RTI activist Santosh Gholap has claimed in an exclusive conversation with Gaonkaari.

Gholap, who submitted a supplementary complaint to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Mumbai, on October 24, alleged that persons associated with a wider online betting network have established their operational base in Goa. He claimed that nearly 50 individuals are working from two prominent offshore casinos, raising serious questions about the possible misuse of casino premises for illegal activities.

The allegations assume significance following the recent exposure of a massive ₹900-crore cyber-fraud network operating from two luxury villas in Candolim. The Mumbai Crime Branch arrested 22 persons during separate raids and uncovered a network allegedly controlled from Dubai. Investigators found that thousands of bank accounts were used to route suspicious financial transactions, with gaming platforms allegedly facilitating commission payments.

Meanwhile, the ED conducted searches at 20 premises across Mumbai, Pune, Mehsana, Surat and Hyderabad on October 13 in connection with the All Panel Exchange and MGM91 online betting platforms. The investigation uncovered an alleged money-laundering network involving Pune-based Edsom Fintech Pvt. Ltd. and its payment platform iPaisa, which reportedly used more than 200 shell entities.

Gholap’s supplementary complaint identifies 17 bank accounts, 46 individuals and approximately 20,442 player records requiring investigation. It also names Samundar Singh Rathod as an alleged central controller of the wider network and seeks scrutiny of suspected hawala transactions, cryptocurrency movements and overseas financial links.

The latest disclosure has brought Goa’s offshore casino operations under fresh scrutiny. Are organised online betting syndicates using Goa’s casino establishments as operational shelters, and are local enforcement agencies aware of their activities?

The allegations now raise the question of whether the ED and Goa Police will examine the reported presence of nearly 50 individuals at the two offshore casinos and trace any financial connections with the wider online betting network.