A series of coordinated police raids in Kathmandu have led to the arrest of nine Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen for allegedly running an illegal online betting operation tied to the ongoing Nepal Premier League (NPL), according to a report by PTI.
The arrests were made over the weekend in two separate operations. Eight Indian nationals, all from Andhra Pradesh and aged between 19 and 35, were taken into custody on Saturday from a rented house in the Samakhusi area of Kathmandu. Police seized 15 mobile phones from the location. The group was reportedly caught red-handed while betting on live matches in the tournament, which is taking place at Tribhuvan University Stadium.
A day earlier, on Friday, another raid led to the arrest of two more individuals—one Indian and one Nepali—bringing the total number of those detained to ten.
The NPL, Nepal’s top-tier franchise cricket tournament, is scheduled to run from November 17 to December 13 in Kathmandu. Law enforcement officials said the suspects were engaged in placing illegal online bets on matches during the event.
Superintendent of Police Kaji Kumar Acharya, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office, revealed that the group was allegedly operating with betting volumes estimated at NRs 500,000 (approx. US$ 3.5k). However, other estimates cited in the investigation suggest the total amount involved may reach as high as NRs 25 million (approx. US$ 175.2k).
In addition to betting, the suspects are also believed to have been involved in unauthorized cryptocurrency transactions linked to the operation, police said.
The arrests have raised concerns around the integrity of the tournament and the broader risks of unregulated gambling operations exploiting major sporting events in South Asia. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out further arrests.
