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Ratan Khatri

Ratan Khatri (c.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Ratan Khatri (c. 1932 – 9 May 2020) was an Indian gambling kingpin and film producer best known as the “Matka King.” He was widely credited with popularising and expanding matka betting from Mumbai into a large underground gambling network. Reports described him as a Sindhi Hindu migrant to Mumbai from Karachi after Partition.

Early life

Accounts describe Khatri as a Sindhi Hindu born in Karachi who later moved to Mumbai during the Partition era. Details about his early years are limited in the available sources, and his birth year is usually given as circa 1932.

Matka gambling career

Khatri became known for expanding matka betting into a large-scale and profitable gambling network in Mumbai. Sources credit him with popularising his own version of the game and giving him the public reputation of Matka King.

Later life and death

By the 1990s and later years, his involvement in matka reportedly declined. He died on 9 May 2020 in South Mumbai after a reported cardiac arrest or stroke-related illness, depending on the report.

Legacy

Khatri remains a notable figure in accounts of Mumbai's underground betting history. His life has continued to attract media attention and has been cited as inspiration for fictional or dramatized depictions of the matka world.

Key facts

  • Khatri was widely identified as a major figure in Mumbai's matka gambling scene and was popularly called the Matka King.
  • He was born around 1932 and died on 9 May 2020 at his home in South Mumbai.
  • He was from a Sindhi family that moved from Karachi to Mumbai after Partition.
  • He is credited with helping turn matka into an organised and highly profitable underground betting industry.
  • Some sources also describe him as a film producer.

Frequently asked questions

Who was Ratan Khatri?
He was an Indian gambling kingpin widely known as the “Matka King” for his role in expanding matka betting in Mumbai.
Why was Ratan Khatri called the Matka King?
He was popularly given that nickname because he was credited with making matka into a major organised gambling network.
Where was Ratan Khatri from?
Sources say he came from a Sindhi family in Karachi and later moved to Mumbai after Partition.
When did Ratan Khatri die?
He died on 9 May 2020 in South Mumbai at the age of 88, according to contemporary reports.
Was Ratan Khatri a film producer?
Some sources describe him as a film producer, but his gambling career is far better documented than any work in film.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratan_Khatri
    Supports: Birth and death dates, identification as gambling kingpin and Matka King, and brief biographical overview.
  2. The Indian Express — https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/matka-king-rattan-khatri-dead-6411349/
    Supports: Death report, nickname Matka King, and his role in spreading matka gambling.
  3. The Indian Express — https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/mumbai-ratan-khatri-the-matka-king-dies-at-88-6405531/
    Supports: Background as a Sindhi migrant from Karachi, matka career, and reported daily turnover of his gambling operation.