The investigation into multi-crore on-line gaming fraud has further uncovered two land deals worth Rs 70 crore of fugitive fraudster Ananth alias Sontu Navratan Jain with five businessmen of Gondia. A senior police official said that Sontu had finalised a deal of over 1.50 lakh square feet land along the highway with a businessman from Gondia at the rate of over Rs 1,800 per square feet. Sontu had even paid over Rs 32 crore in advance to the businessmen for the deal. Another land deal was fixed with a group of four businessmen of Gondia. The four persons had purchased a land parcel of over 70,000 square feet from a businessman and transferred it to Sontu at the rate of Rs 4,000 per square feet. Sontu had paid a substantial amount of over Rs 18 crore to these businessmen.

 

The official claimed that documents related to the land deals were seized during the raid at Sontu’s Gondia residence. Since the police raid, the five persons have gone into hiding, the official said. Even after notices issued by the police, the businessmen are not responding to the police. It may be mentioned here that during the raid on Sontu’s residence in Gondia on July 22, the police had seized Rs 17 crore in cash, 14 kg of gold, and 294 kg of silver with a combined worth of Rs 27 crore. Subsequently, Rs 85 lakh cash and gold worth over Rs 4.5 crore were found in the lockers of Sontu Jain and his family members.

 

It has been revealed that the accused, Sontu, operated an illegal online gaming platform under the guise of "DiamondExchange.com." The platform allegedly manipulated unsuspecting victims into engaging in various gambling activities, such as Rummy and Teen Patti, leading to significant financial losses for many. The investigation into this on-line gaming fraud case started when a Nagpur-based businessman approached the police, claiming to have been duped of Rs 58 crore by Sontu’s gaming platform. He alleged that the results were manipulated, due to which he suffered substantial financial losses. When the victim demanded his money back, Sontu not only refused but also issued threats. Under immense financial pressure, the victim arranged Rs 40 lakh through friends and transferred it to Sontu via a hawala trader.