Hyderabad Whistleblower Exposes Online Cricket Betting Scam After Losing Rs 50 Lakh, Friend Dies by Suicide
Hyderabad, 8th July 2025: What began as a casual click on a flashy Instagram reel ended in tragedy for one and a determined fight for justice by another. A 27-year-old Hyderabad man, devastated by personal loss and a staggering ₹50 lakh financial blow, turned whistleblower to unmask a sprawling online cricket betting racket preying on youth across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The man, who had recently returned from Italy after completing his MBA and Master’s in Information Technology, infiltrated illegal Telegram betting groups by posing as an agent. His month-long undercover operation helped Cyberabad Police register two FIRs in June and arrest five social media influencers promoting fraudulent “fixed toss” gambling schemes.
“It all started in December 2023,” the whistleblower recounted. While studying in Italy, he and his friend from Bhopal were lured into a Telegram group called ‘The Mars Toss’ after watching an Instagram reel. The group promised guaranteed predictions of coin toss outcomes in cricket matches and directed users to offshore betting websites. One of the group’s administrators, identified as Pottavathini Deepak, encouraged users to place high-stakes bets, claiming inside access to match outcomes.
“The first few bets hit, and we started trusting them. But eventually, we lost control,” he shared. Over the next several months, he borrowed heavily from friends and family, trying to recover his losses. By May 2025, his debt had crossed ₹50 lakh. His friend, who lost even more—about ₹60 lakh—died by suicide in December 2024.
Haunted by the loss and desperate for accountability, he returned to Hyderabad in May this year. Instead of seeking revenge, he decided to gather proof. He joined other betting groups under a fake identity, collected promotional material, tracked financial trails, and compiled a list of individuals involved. “These influencers weren’t just giving tips—they were earning lakhs every month by pushing young people into betting traps,” he explained.
He took his findings—names, mobile numbers, screenshots, and video content—to Inspector K Kranthi Kumar at Miyapur Police Station. The matter was soon handed over to Cyberabad’s cybercrime unit, which launched a swift crackdown.
Within weeks, four key influencers were arrested. A fifth was later nabbed from the Kukatpally area for running similar operations on Telegram.
Among the arrested were:
Valluri Srinivasa Rao (32): Accused of making nearly ₹1 crore in five years through betting commissions.
Ch Naga Rakesh: An IT engineer from Vijayawada who allegedly earned ₹1.7 crore since 2020 from illegal promotions.
P Deepak: A software developer and AI student from Jagtial linked to the original scam group.
All accused have been remanded in judicial custody.
“These so-called influencers were being paid lakhs by unauthorized betting platforms to trap gullible youth with promises of fixed matches,” said Cybercrime DCP B Sai Sri. “We are now probing deeper into financial transactions and the betting sites involved.”
Police officials praised the whistleblower’s role in unearthing the scam. “He showed extraordinary courage and commitment. His work helped us act swiftly,” said a senior officer from the Cyberabad cybercrime team.
Speaking to reporters, the whistleblower said, “I couldn’t save my friend, but I didn’t want more lives ruined. These people sell lies and dreams, and it’s destroying families. I’m thankful the police didn’t brush it aside.”
