Rajasthan interstate IPL betting gang busted by ATS

JAIPUR: In a major operation, the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) busted an interstate gang involved in betting on the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday. Simultaneous raids were conducted in Delhi, Cyberabad in Telangana, Jaipur and Nagaur, and 14 persons were arrested late on Sunday evening.
The ATS had received information that bookies from the state were operating in other states and taking bets on IPL matches, currently underway in UAE.
“Based on the information, the ATS teams conducted simultaneous raids at five different places in three states. The accused had followed a modus operandi of switching places, moving to other states to hoodwink cops and carry out their illegal activities. We came to know that they would change their location from Monday and, hence, we conducted the raids with the help of police from other states on Sunday, when two IPL matches were going on. We are in the process of registering cases at different places.” ADG Ashok Rathore, SOG & ATS, told TOI.
Although the accounts are yet to be checked thoroughly, officials believe that the betting racket would have dealt in at least Rs 20 crore. Cops recovered Rs 2.5 lakh from the Jaipur residence of one of the accused who was arrested from Telangana.
Of 14 accused, seven held from Cyberabad
Of the 14 arrested, seven were held from Cyberabad, while the remaining were caught from Jaipur. Most of the arrested hail from Bikaner in Rajasthan.
In Delhi and Nagaur, the accused managed to escape from the cops. Police seized mobile phones, laptops and computers which were being used to run the betting racket.
In Jaipur, the accused were found to be using range diverters to divert location of mobile phones.
Cops are also looking at the possibility if the betting network is into match-fixing and have international links. This year, the IPL season kicked off last month, following which the Rajasthan police had been catching smalltime bookies. This is the biggest haul covering other states. The accused are being questioned for more details.