The ongoing investigation into the large-scale cricket betting and gambling activities is throwing up many surprises, including the fact that bookies have cast their net on the non-literate and innocent people in rural areas as well.
The officials are surprised at the massive scale that these betting and gambling activities have spread in Nellore district, which is something not being witnessed in any other district in the affected States of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
In the past two weeks here, the total number of arrested bookies, sub-bookies and punters has come to nearly 400.
A sizeable number of these bookies and punters are hailing from rural areas here such as Kavali, Atmakur, Gudur and Buchireddypalem. Among those arrested recently are Brahma Naidu, Nava Sekhar, Janardhan Reddy, Shafi and others.
It is learnt that many people from rural villages in the district are frequenting Nellore to take part in gambling activities carried out illegally at different places here. They are becoming victims of the cricket betting organisers eventually.
Considering this menace, the officials have increased raids on the gambling dens.
