Those involved in cricket betting are using advanced technology in booking customers, contacting bookies and for accepting amount. It has become tough for the police to track the accused as many transactions are being done online through smart phones and laptops to evade the police dragnet.
Unconfirmed sources said online transactions worth some crores of rupees were being done during the ongoing IPL Twenty-20 cricket matches. Police busted several cricket betting rackets in the last few days and students, traders and some private employees were among the arrested.
“Unlike earlier, bookies are contacting the punters through internet or mobile phones and are resorting to betting which is running into huge amounts. The bettors are doing the transactions through smart phones, tablets or laptops, mostly from their homes or offices, which has become hard for the police to check. We could focus on the bettings being organised in hotels, internet centres and other public places”, said a police officer.
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In Vijayawada Commissionerate and in Krishna district, police conducted raids and booked several cases. Suspect sheets were opened against 50 persons in Central and West Zones in Vijayawada for involving in cricket betting in the last 15 days. Movements of those, who were booked on similar charges earlier, was being monitored, said the police.
The police arrested five persons, including polytechnic and degree students, for resorting to cricket betting on IPL matches.
They confiscated a laptop, Rs. 51,000 cash and mobile phones from their possession. The City Task Force police apprehended five persons for accepting cricket betting a couple of days ago.
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Central Zone Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) P.S.N. Rao said following the directions of City Police Commissioner N. Madhusudhan Reddy, the Machavaram, Krishnalanka and Nunna police opened suspect sheets against 18 bettors. Instructions were given to the Station House Officers to deal cricket betting cases seriously, said Mr. Rao.