Large-scale betting on the outcome of the General and Assembly elections has commenced in the capital region as counting day draws nearer.
Seven persons were arrested in Mangalagiri by the Guntur Urban Police recently, and ₹10.15 lakh in cash was seized from them, indicating the kind of big money that is at stake here.
The main accused, Boppana Venkateswara Rao, is a native of Penumaka village in Tadepalli mandal and is said to be the kingpin of the betting racket.
Modus operandi
Superintendent of Police Ch. Vijaya Rao said that the betting over poll results is going on in a large scale in the district and warned that police would crack down on such activities. In this case, the accused had empty stamp papers. The modus operandi was to gather as a group in the evenings, and place bets. The group would attempt to engage other people over phone and ask them to take part in betting.
A team of policemen led by DSP North Ramakrishna raided the top floor of Hotel Sahara in Mangalagiri and nabbed the accused. Besides cash, police also seized a car, seven mobile phones and empty stamp papers.
The police are also in hot pursuit of punters during this IPL season and are following leads from old offenders. Mr. Vijaya Rao said that Special Task Force personnel are monitoring the activities of punters.
