Mumbai

Navi Mumbai Auto Driver Loses Rs 1.3 Crore To Online Gaming Fraud After Selling Plot

By Editorial·11 June 2026·1 min read

A photorealistic wide shot of a dejected 25-year-old Indian auto-rickshaw driver leaning against his yellow-and-black ve...

A 25-year-old auto-rickshaw driver from Morave village in the Ulwe node of Panvel taluka was defrauded of Rs 1.3 crore after selling his government-allotted plot to bet on an online gaming platform. The victim registered a complaint on Monday at the Navi Mumbai cyber police station after realizing he could not withdraw his virtual profits.

The complainant is a Project Affected Person (PAP) who had been allotted the plot in Ulwe by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) under the 12.5% compensation scheme.

According to the police, the driver sold this plot and gradually invested the entire sum of Rs 1.3 crore between March 2024 and April 2026. He placed bets on card games and casino games on an online gaming platform called 'KheloStar'.

Senior Inspector Vishal Patil of the Navi Mumbai cyber police station stated that the driver registered his user ID account on the 'KheloStar' website in March. In the initial stages, the platform allowed him to withdraw some of his profits to his bank account, which helped gain his trust.

Lured by the virtual profits displayed on the application, the driver continued to place larger bets. He transferred the money received from the sale of his PAP plot to various bank accounts provided on the app.

However, when he attempted to withdraw his accumulated profits later, he was unable to do so, prompting him to realize he had been cheated.

Following his complaint, the Navi Mumbai cyber police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against an unidentified gang of scamsters. The accused include the online gaming platform’s director, manager, customer care representatives, the creator of the gaming app link, and the holders of the bank accounts to which the money was transferred.

The suspects have been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections for cheating, criminal breach of trust, and common intention. They also face charges under the Information Technology Act and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act.