Indian authorities make 83 Ludhiana lottery related arrests in 2021

The Ludhiana Commissionarate has confirmed it made 83 arrests in 2021 related to the operation of illegal lottery businesses. 
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The Ludhiana Commissionarate has confirmed it made 83 arrests in 2021 related to the operation of illegal lottery businesses. 

As reported by Tribune India, the inspectorate of the largest city in the Punjab state of India informed stakeholders that of the 83 arrests, 49 of those were under India’s Gambling Act.

This week, the police confirmed the arrest of a man named Ashok Kumar for running an illegal lottery racket, recovering Rs7,680 (£76.01) from him in the process.

Furthermore, a second raid resulted in the arrest of another man in Ludhiana for illegal lottery operations, with the police recovering a further Rs5,350 (£52.95).

In total, Ludhiana Commissionarate confirmed it had recovered Rs6.49 lakh (£6423) throughout 2021 from those arrested under lottery-related crimes.

“We have clear instructions from the senior officials that illegal lottery business should not be allowed in the industrial hub. Our campaign last year against the illegal lottery had yielded good results as several rackets were busted,” Inspector Beant Juneja told Tribune India. 

Juneja also confirmed that another Special Branch campaign would begin in 2022 to tackle the issues around illegal lottery businesses appearing in the Ludhiana marketplace. 

Lottery fraud has been on the agenda in India in recent months, with the government issuing a warning to the public to remain vigilant.

In November, the Indian government warned the public against fraudsters after distancing itself from text messages perceived to be from a popular television show telling recipients they have won a lottery prize.