West Bengal Police Uncover Fake Lottery Scheme, Two Arrested

In a significant operation, West Bengal police have arrested two individuals linked to a fake lottery racket in Purulia district. The suspects, Shakti Yadav and Ganesh Sau, were apprehended after a year on the run. Authorities seized over ₹10 lakh in cash during a raid at one suspect's residence. Investigations revealed a broader network involving counterfeit lottery tickets that closely mimicked legitimate ones, leading to substantial profits for the sellers. The police are exploring connections to individuals in neighboring Jharkhand, indicating a possible interstate operation. This crackdown highlights ongoing efforts to combat illegal lottery activities in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 16, 2026, 14:46 IST

Police Crackdown on Lottery Fraud in Purulia

Representational Image

Kolkata, June 16: Authorities in Purulia district, West Bengal, have dismantled a fraudulent lottery operation, leading to the arrest of two individuals, as confirmed by a senior police official on Tuesday.

The suspects, identified as Shakti Yadav and Ganesh Sau, hail from Amdanga and Ranipur villages, respectively, within the jurisdiction of the Neturia police station.

Investigations revealed that Shakti was engaged as a lottery seller, while Ganesh served as the primary supplier for the counterfeit lottery scheme. Both had been evading capture for nearly a year prior to their apprehension. A raid at one suspect's home resulted in the recovery of ₹10.42 lakh in cash.

The pair was presented before the Raghunathpur sub-divisional court, which ordered them to be held in police custody for five days.

Earlier, on April 23, 2025, two other individuals were arrested for their involvement in a similar fake lottery operation, during which a significant quantity of counterfeit tickets and ₹22,000 in cash were seized. The primary suspect from that incident had been evading law enforcement since then.

Following specific intelligence, investigators apprehended Ganesh, whose questioning led to the identification of additional members of the fraudulent network, resulting in Shakti's arrest.

Officials noted that illegal lottery activities have persisted in the district for an extended period. The district police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have previously conducted numerous raids, leading to multiple arrests.

Further investigations have uncovered connections to individuals in neighboring Jharkhand, suggesting a potential interstate operation linked to the current case.

According to police reports, the accused produced counterfeit lottery tickets that closely resembled those of legitimate lotteries, making them challenging to identify. Sellers profited significantly more from these fake tickets than from authorized ones, prompting the scheme's expansion into rural and semi-urban regions to avoid detection.

Initial findings indicate that the counterfeit tickets were distributed through a network before reaching local vendors. Shakti Yadav also played a role as a distributor in the Neturia area, deceiving unsuspecting buyers in the process.