Former R&AW Officer Vikas Yadav is at the center of a high-profile kidnapping and torture case with links to organized crime and illegal betting. Police arrested Yadav along with Abdullah Khan for the abduction of Raj Kumar Walia in December 2023. Authorities also connected Yadav to the Mahadev betting app, a notorious operation under investigation.
Walia alleged that Yadav and Khan kidnapped and tortured him while demanding money. His accusations extended further when police mentioned Yadav’s link to Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, whom American authorities targeted in a murder-for-hire plot.
Another key figure in this network is Jalaluddin, a panel operator for the Mahadev betting app. He comes from Bihar, later moved to Dubai, and was arrested in July 2023 before securing bail within three weeks. According to police, after abducting Walia, Yadav and Khan demanded that he make payments to Jalaluddin. Walia claimed that Jalaluddin owed him money and refused, adding another layer of dispute.
Court records revealed that both Jalaluddin and Walia traveled to Thailand on January 6, 2024, just weeks after the kidnapping. While Walia denied the evidence, prosecutors insisted this detail showed deeper conspiracies. The court granted Jalaluddin bail, citing passport evidence, but investigators maintain he played a central role.
Financial links further complicate the case. Reports suggest Jalaluddin transferred Rs 16 lakh to Yadav and Khan. While Walia said they coerced him into signing blank cheques and demanded Rs 20 lakh through hawala channels. Such transfers highlight the growing role of illegal money flows, especially in regions like Punjab, where organized crime is expanding.
Authorities stress that cross-border ties and hawala dealings are making investigations more complex. With rising organized crime in cities like Mohali and Chandigarh, law enforcement faces mounting challenges in curbing illegal betting operations.
The case continues to unfold, with a Delhi court directing investigators to file a supplementary charge sheet by August 25, 2023. The serious allegations against Former R&AW Officer Vikas Yadav underscore the urgent need for stronger measures to tackle organized crime and illegal betting in India.
