By Asif Rizvi
The firm, which didn’t have the necessary software algorithm to predict winners, was copying results from state-run Rajshree Lottery.
The Mumbai crime branch on Wednesday busted a fake online lottery which was copying results of state-run Rajshree Lottery as it didn’t have the necessary software algorithms in place to predict its winners. Bhagyashree Lottery, which even had two franchisees in the city, also didn’t have the required licences from the state.
Cops from unit 11 of crime branch have arrested the main accused, identified as Kadar Shaikh, alias Badshah, along with his business partner, Narendra Kanani, and two franchise owners Alpesh Battiya, 34, and Zahiruddin Shaikh, 45.
“We believe they made a profit of Rs 20,000-30,000 every day from around 2,000 people who bought lottery tickets through their website and app every day. While we have only found two franchisee outlets so far, we think there may be around five more,” said Nisar Tamboli, DCP, Detection-1.
Cops said Badshah, a software engineer from Andhra Pradesh, ran a franchise of Rajshree Lottery earlier. However, he gave it up after the introduction of GST started hurting his business. Six months ago, he created a basic website and mobile app for Bhagyashree Lottery and started accepting bids daily.
While things were going on smoothly, the lottery came under the crime branch scanner after investigators found the winning combinations similar to those uploaded by Rajshree Lottery. Further, this was uploaded on Bhagyashree’s portal minutes after the state-run lottery uploaded its results. “As it turns out, Badshah used to simply copy-paste the results,” said a senior police officer.

Investigators seized six computers, eight mobile phones, a router, a barcode scanner and Rs 3,28,280 in cash from his Charkop office.
The accused were produced before court on Thursday and were remanded in police custody till March 20, said police inspector Chimaji Adhav of the crime branch. “More arrests are likely in the case.”