Maharashtra: A businessman wins ₹5 crore in gambling. Then loses ₹58 crore

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₹58 crore in online gambling after winning ₹5 crore. According to a report by the PTI news agency, the businessman filed a complaint to the police after losing the amount. The Nagpur-based businessman said that the accused, identified as Anant alias Sontu Navratan Jain convinced him to explore online gambling as a lucrative avenue for earning profits.

Initially hesitant, the businessman eventually succumbed to Jain's persuasion and transferred ₹8 lakh through a hawala merchant, Nagpur Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar said. Jain provided the businessman with a link on WhatsApp to open an online gambling account. The businessman found ₹8 lakh deposited in the account and he began gambling, Kumar said.

"After initial success, the businessman's fortunes took a drastic downturn as he lost a whopping ₹58 crore while winning around ₹5 crore," the police commissioner said. He said the businessman grew suspicious as he was losing and demanded his money back, but Jain refused. "The businessman complained to the cyber police, leading to the registration of a case of fraud under the Indian Penal Code.

Police raided Jain's residence in Gondia. The operation resulted in the seizure of a substantial amount of evidence, including ₹14 crore cash and four kg gold biscuits," Kumar added. Jain fled just before police raided his residence in Gondia City, 160 km away from Nagpur.