8 arrested in online gambling bust presented in court

KATHMANDU: The police have detained eight persons, including artist Raju Poudel (Raju Master) and Marichman Shrestha ‘Balchi Dhurve’ for advertising and promoting online betting platforms.

Along with artists Poudel and Shrestha, those arrested include Marichman Shrestha (Balchi Dhurve), Raju Paudel, Pawan Khatiwada, Elish Rai, Zalan Gharti Magar, Ganesh Devkota, Saroj Ghimire, and Vegam Nepali.

The police arrested them on Thursday, and the public prosecutor’s office will take them to court and hold them for inquiry.

According to the police, individuals arrested advertised betting on YouTube using the 1xBet app.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police Dr Manoj Kumar KC, they were detained as of a YouTube advertisement claiming that a promo code could be used to gain a discount on 1xBet.

He said that the Gambling Act and the National Bank Act will attract those arrested.

He said, ‘Today we arrested 8 people and made them public. Promoting 1xBet through different means, different media and also keeping its promo code. After arresting them, we have taken them to the investigation process itself. It is seen that the arrested person promoted 1xBet and received a certain commission for conducting the promotion. It includes those who run popular teleserials and have many subscribers on YouTube. It is illegal in our country. The Gambling Act and the National Bank Act are attracted.’

Article 125 of the Criminal Code of Nepal 2074 prohibits gambling or betting.

In subsection (1) of section 920 of section 125, (a) for the first time, a person who gambles or plays for the first time shall be imprisoned for up to three months or fined up to 30,000 and sub-section, in (b), there is a provision for a person who gambles for the second time to be imprisoned for up to one year and fined up to 50,000 rupees, and for subsequent offences, imprisonment for an additional three months and fined up to 10,000 rupees.