Bengaluru: The arrested are identified as Appaji Gangaram Halkekar (30) from Khanapur, Mahanthesh (30) from Gadaga and Suresh Mallappa Agasara (35) from Khanapur and were working from kingpin Harsheed from Mumbai. Halkekar it is said that joined hands with Harsheed to make good his loss after he lost money in online lottery scam himself, earlier.

On instructions by Harsheed, Mahantesh and Suresh were introduced by Appaji into the crime as they were his friends and they opened as many as 15 bank accounts for the purpose. Harsheed offered them a commission of Rs 3000 for every lakh earned through the scam.

The scam became so profitable soon that Halkekar, Mahantesh, and Agasara earned Rs 3 lakh in commission. Southeast CEN Crime police started tracking the gang after receiving a complaint and apprehended the three. Harsheed is still absconding.