In a major development, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Gujarat Police have successfully extradited Harshit Jain, the alleged mastermind of Gujarat’s largest-ever cricket betting scam worth over ₹2,300 crore. Jain, who had fled to Dubai after a high-profile police crackdown in March 2023, was deported to Ahmedabad this week, concluding an intense 18-month-long international manhunt.
Jain’s syndicate had built a sophisticated network of online betting platforms, exploiting loopholes in digital transactions and hosting servers overseas to evade detection. The racket reportedly targeted lakhs of punters across India and abroad, operating extensively during marquee cricket events such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and international fixtures.
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The scam first came to light in March 2023, when the Gujarat Police raided multiple locations, uncovering a complex network of illegal betting apps, fake user profiles, and digital payment gateways routed through shell companies. As investigators uncovered the magnitude of the operation, the case was escalated to the CBI for global coordination.
In a joint operation, #Gujarat Police and the CBI tracked down and brought back Harshit Jain, the fugitive mastermind behind Gujarat’s biggest-ever cricket betting scam worth over ₹2300 crore.@santwana99 @jayanthjacob @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/Rfxahs2Y7T
— Dilip Kshatriya (@Kshatriyadilip) September 5, 2025
Following a Red Corner Notice issued via Interpol, Indian authorities worked closely with UAE officials through backchannel diplomacy. Jain was detained in Dubai earlier this year, and after completing legal formalities, he was deported under mutual legal assistance provisions.
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Officials confirmed Jain will now face multiple charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Information Technology Act, and the Gambling Act. Gujarat DGP Vikas Sahay hailed the operation as a landmark breakthrough, stating, “This was one of the country’s most complex cyber-betting investigations. With Harshit Jain in custody, we expect to expose further layers of this multi-crore racket.”
Investigators are now focusing on Jain’s financial dealings, including suspected links to hawala transactions, cryptocurrency trades, and offshore bank accounts. Authorities anticipate further arrests in the coming weeks as they work to dismantle the sprawling betting empire.
