Eight people were detained by the Panaji police on Friday for engaging in online gambling, and items worth Rs 2.40 lakh were seized from their possession. According to information provided to the media, the gamblers from Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh had rented a penthouse to conduct the illicit activities on a grander level.

Karan Chawani, 27, Vijay Rupani, 24, both from Chhattisgarh, Maruti Biwai, 21, Amit More, 22, and Umesh Jaulkar, all from Maharashtra, Snehil Garag, 23, and Sumit Shivani, 29, both from Madhya Pradesh, and Vijay Yadav, 31, from Uttar Pradesh, were all busted while taking online bets.

The search team also seized laptops, mobile phones, and other gambling-related materials from their hands, all of which will be investigated to find more clues in the interrogation. According to sections 3 and 4 of the Goa Daman and Diu Gambling Act, 1976, the suspects have been held. More suspects in the case are being sought after by the police.

Earlier this week, a similar illegal gambling incident took place in Ludhiana, where the police detained 21 people. One of the accused managed to escape, and he is said to be the operator of the entire activity.  The arrests were made, according to investigating officer assistant sub-inspector Jagtar Singh, based on a tip he received that a gambling ring was operating out of a Janakpuri residence.

The police carried out a raid and detained the 21 suspects, the majority of whom were migrant workers. The racketeers invited the workers to wager on lottery numbers. Police seized 7,260 from the defendant. A complaint was filed against the defendant under section 294 A (keeping lottery office) of the Indian Penal Code, 13A, 3, 67, and 7(3) of the Lottery Act.

84 people were nabbed for conducting illegal gambling activities last week, including 13 women and an inspector. The arrests happened after Jaisinghpura police and a crime branch squad from Jaipur police broke into the farmhouse where the activities took place.