5 were arrested for betting on IPL

The city police on Saturday said that they have arrested five cheaters for betting on IPL matches with the recovery of 54 mobile phones and a laptop. Acting on a tip that some bookies were coming to the city for betting on IPL matches, a trap was laid and a car was made patrolled on Ladowali road in the peak hours on Saturday, by Pawan Kumar Rai, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

He said personal search of the vehicle led to the recovery of 6 suitcases carrying the mobile phones. The accused were identified as Ajay Kumar, Harish, Ashwani Manchanda, Sudhir Kumar and Sharma and they were immediately arrested and a case has been registered under the Gambling Act.

While Ajay Kumar was the head of the gang, Harish was the computer expert to make record of the bets, adding that other accused used to receive the bets. Rai revealed that recently a network of cheaters was busted in the city and fearing their arrest, the accused shifted their venue of operation to the adjoining district, from where they were coming back at the time of their arrests.

During preliminary interrogation, the accused have revealed some more names of their accomplices and efforts were on to nab them, the DCP said, adding that the accused were being produced before the court to seek their police remand. He did not rule out international connections of the bookies and said exact information on the modus operandi would be known only after their detailed interrogation.