Patna: Authorities in Patna have uncovered a large-scale illegal lottery operation running under the cover of a local printing press, arresting 18 people in a coordinated raid. The Special Task Force (STF), working alongside the city police, conducted the operation in the Paijawa area under the jurisdiction of the Bypass Police Station, acting on a confidential tip-off.
During the raid, officers recovered a substantial quantity of lottery tickets, with preliminary estimates suggesting the operation was worth crores of rupees. Police sources said the syndicate appeared to be highly organised, using the printing press as a front to distribute tickets across multiple districts in Bihar and to other states.
All 18 individuals detained are currently undergoing questioning, with investigators seeking to identify the organisers behind the racket. The role of the printing press owner is also under scrutiny, and the facility has been sealed as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Officials have indicated that further arrests are likely as the investigation continues, and they are aiming to dismantle the entire network. The operation has sent shockwaves through the Paijawa area, with local residents expressing surprise at the scale of the illegal activity.
