Hyderabad: Malkajgiri SOT, Jawahar Nagar Police bust interstate horse betting racket; 4 held, Rs 4.47L seized

Hyderabad: Special Operations Team (SOT) of Malkajgiri and Jawahar Nagar Law and Order Police busted an interstate horse betting racket operating out of Hyderabad.

The joint operation led to the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of cash and bank balances totaling Rs 4.47 lakh.

Betting network operated through WhatsApp

The key accused, Thokala Nagesh, a 45-year-old private sector employee residing in Dammaiguda, is said to have masterminded the betting ring. Originally from Old Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Nagesh developed an interest in horse betting while working in Chennai.

Following a personal and financial crisis in 2020, he relocated to Hyderabad and began operating betting activities independently. Using the WhatsApp platform, Nagesh created a group named “Shinewell Enterprises” and added 105 members from across India, including 20 from Hyderabad.

He operated the racket from rented accommodations and collected bets by luring individuals with promises of high returns.

Massive financial transactions traced

Investigations revealed that a whopping Rs 8.34 crore in betting-related transactions had taken place through Nagesh's bank accounts. The illegal operations were not only spread across states but also involved the systematic collection and distribution of funds through mobile devices and online banking.

Arrested and wanted individuals

In the operation, four accused were identified as Thokala Nagesh (45), Bookie, from Dammaiguda, Borra Venkaiah Chowdary (45), Businessman/Punter, from Manikonda, Challa Ramesh Babu (48), Auto Driver/Punter, from HB Colony, and D. Sunil (55), Employee/Punter, from Safilguda.

Two others, M Rajesh Kumar of Malakpet and Venkat Chowdary of Vijayawada, who are believed to be co-bookies, are absconding and are yet to be apprehended.

Seized items and frozen accounts

During the raid, officials seized the following, including Rs 2 lakh, one mobile phone used in the betting operations, and Rs 2.47 lakh frozen in Axis and IndusInd bank accounts used for betting transactions.

The case has been registered under Cr. No. 876/2025 under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 344 of the Telangana Gaming Act at Jawahar Nagar Police Station.

Police appeal to the public

The Rachakonda Police have issued a public appeal warning citizens against participating in betting or gambling activities. "Such vices not only lead to legal consequences but also ruin families and lives. Citizens are encouraged to report illegal activities in their neighborhoods to help maintain a healthy and law-abiding society,” said Rachakonda Commissioner of Police G Sudheer Babu.