Under “Operation End Game”, launched on 17 September 2025, the Chandigarh Income Tax (I-T) department has uncovered North India’s largest online betting network to date, with links now traced to Delhi. The I-T department has informed the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Union Finance Ministry, and Union Home Ministry about the involvement of several police and administrative officers—some from the UT cadre currently posted with Delhi Police, along with other personnel stationed in Chandigarh.
The I-T probe has revealed that the network spans eight states—Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh—and Delhi, with overseas connections to Dubai, Malaysia, and Armenia. Electronic devices and online software data linked to the racket have been seized, and officials stress the need to expand the scope of the investigation.
The operation involved over 250 officials, including senior Deputy Commissioners and Directors, who conducted coordinated raids at 35 locations across Chandigarh, Panchkula, Mohali, and Rajpura. Over 45 arrests have been made and investigations reveal money laundering exceeding ₹500 crore. Around ten senior officials from Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Delhi are under scrutiny.
The massive ‘Operation End Game’ has opened up another lid as the Union government has asked Chandigarh Police to provide details of previous investigations relating to corrupt officers conducted during former DGP Surendra Singh Yadav’s tenure. Over 40 policemen were investigated then, but reports were reportedly shelved after the abrupt transfer of Yadav.
The former DGP’s Annual Confidential Report (ACR) had exposed serious corruption and criminal involvement of several police officers, linked to illegal betting and large corruption networks. Although Yadav recommended stalling of their promotions, some of the named were awarded top “outstanding” ratings despite ongoing investigations. Many were also got promoted based on fraudulent credentials.
Key revelations include:
- An inspector allegedly colluding with the liquor mafia.
- Officers involved in smuggling Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), including a case where two trucks with identical registration numbers unloaded ENA on the same day.
- Links between a senior inspector and drug mafias across Chandigarh, Punjab, and Mumbai, including synthetic drug factory owners.
- Cases of extortion, abduction, and other grave crimes, with at least one demotion following a CBI probe.
Investigations now point to around 10 senior officials from Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, and Delhi.
