Major gambling criminal extradited from UAE to India

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Global Task Force coordinated and facilitated the return of a person wanted by the Gujarat Police for his alleged involvement in an international gambling racket from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Officials on Sunday said that the accused, identified as Deepakkumar Dhirajlal Thakkar, was brought back on Sunday in collaboration with the Gujarat Police and Interpol. He was wanted in a case registered on March 25, 2023, at Madhavpura police station in Ahmedabad, they added.

Takkar was accused of allegedly running an international illegal gambling racket carried out using apps and hawala channels to distribute the proceeds of crime, reportedly amounting to over Rs 2,273 crore.

The deported accused has been charged with offences of criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, disappearance of evidence and offences under the Information Technology Act and the Gambling Prevention Act, officials said.

As the case was registered against the accused and after the approach of the Gujarat Police, the CBI received a Red Notice from Interpol against the accused on December 15, 2023, officials said.

The official also added that the RCN was circulated to all Interpol member countries for tracking his whereabouts and subsequent arrest and was eventually traced to Dubai.

A CBI official said:

A security mission from Gujarat Police went to UAE and returned with a Red Notice against India on September 1.

The CBI, as the National Central Bureau of Interpol in India, coordinates with all law enforcement agencies in India to provide assistance through Interpol channels.