Kathmandu: Police have apprehended five individuals involved in illicit online gambling and cryptocurrency trading as part of “Operation 1X to Save Youth and Citizen-2.”
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of the Nepal Police initiated this operation to crackdown the group involved in illegal activities. The arrests were made public on Wednesday following the completion of the operation.
The individuals apprehended are Dinesh Khadka, a 29-year-old resident of Lamki Chuha Municipality-10 in Kailali, who was residing in Chabahil, Kathmandu, Anita Dhital, a 28-year-old originally from Panchkhal Municipality-4 in Kavre, also residing in Chabahil, Dipesh Shrestha, a 27-year-old originally from Madhyapur Thimi Municipality-4 in Bhaktapur, Dinesh Chand, a 25-year-old originally from Bhimdatta Municipality-18 in Kanchanpur, residing in Pepsi Cola, Kathmandu, and Ashish Lamichhane, a 24-year-old originally from Kakani Rural Municipality-7 in Nuwakot, residing in Nagarjun, Kathmandu.
SSP Dr Manoj KC, the spokesperson of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), stated that this group was involved in conducting online gambling activities through 1XBet, which included collecting money and engaging in cryptocurrency trading.
Following information about agents operating 1XBet from Kathmandu, the CIB formed a special team to investigate the matter. The team successfully apprehended these individuals from various locations in the Kathmandu Valley, including Madhyapur Thimi, Sano Bharyang, and Buddhanagar.
Police confirmed that legal action will be taken against the arrested individuals under Section 125 of the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017, for their involvement in gambling activities. The District Police Office in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur will conduct further investigations for this case.
During the arrests, the police seized several items as evidence, including four laptops, six diaries, 34 SIM cards, seven mobile phones, six copies of citizenships, 14 checkbooks from various banks, five ATM cards, and two routers.
Investigations have revealed that Dinesh Khadka had done transactions of more than Rs 640 million, from the bank accounts of Ram Vilas Ditharu, Tej Bahadur Thayat Khadka, Navin Chaudhary, and Anita Dhital. Khadka had created 63 accounts in different banks misusing their documents.
Out of these accounts, transactions worth Rs 630 million were conducted. Khadka operated his business using Connect IPS accounts under names such as Jungal, Pukundo, Pinki, Pintu, Punti, Gullu, Chikuvan, and OnionOne.
It has also been revealed that Dinesh had previously been arrested by police.
Furthermore, four other individuals, including Dinesh Khadka’s sister Bhagwati Khadka, brother-in-law Nara Bahadur Khadka, and Anita Dhital, were previously apprehended by the Department of Revenue Investigation in 2078 BS. They were arrested as transactions worth Rs 87.9 million were recorded through their Global IME Bank accounts.
According to police, Khadka is the main agent of 1XBet in Nepal.
From the investigation, Dipesh Shrestha has been found to be involved in betting and cryptocurrency trading worth Rs 55 million in Machhapuchhre Bank, NIC Asia Bank, Prabhu Bank, and Sanima Bank.
According to the police, the arrested individuals conducted transactions exceeding Rs 740 million through their bank and wallet accounts.
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