The police, in a major success, booked infamous illegal betting operator Anant Navratan Jain alias Sontu.  Notably, Sontu scammed multiple people out of crores of money after promising substantial return on investments on an online gambling platform.

During a nine-hour-long interrogation session, the bookie however was able to evade any allegations regarding the illegal betting network. This comes after Justice MW Chandwani at the Bombay High Court granted Sontu an interim anticipatory bail.

However, Jain will have to report back to the police station every alternate day. During a recent appearance at the crime branch, the DCP Detection Mummaka Sudarshan-led team of officials questioned Sontu.

According to a police official, Jain was able to conceal all information. “Sontu appeared very relaxed and tried to divert each and every question,” the official said as per Nagpur Today. He even refused to provide detain on others involved in the matter.

The initial investigation on the matter started back in July, when Jain defrauded a 50-year-old businessman of Rs 58 crore. As per the businessman, Sontu manipulated and duped him through offers of hefty incentives.

Further investigation in the matter led to the police raiding Jain’s residence. During the raid, they seized Rs 17 crore cash, 14 kg gold, and 294 kg silver. The police also investigated the bank accounts and lockers used by Jain and his family. They discovered another Rs 85 lakh in cash and gold valued at over Rs 4.50 crore upon investigation.

As of now, the police has not been able to squeeze any information out of Jain, but the police believes that the stakes are high as the connections of his work are being made with illegal betting network of Mahadev Book.

Police and the Enforcement Directorate in Chhattisgarh are already working on the case. They have made multiple arrests on the matter, including an ASI named Chandrabhushan Verma, and relative of mastermind Saurabh Chandrakar named Satish.