Hyderabad, Nov 29, : Police in Telangana’s Warangal on Monday arrested two organizers of an online cricket betting scheme and seized more than Rs 2 crore cash. The racket was being run mainly from Mumbai by the organizers who also made customers via a website.
They had received bets on the recent Twenty20 World Cup, and India New Zealand Twenty20 series.
Police detained Madishetty Prasad, a Hanamkonda resident, and Abhay Vilas Rao (a Yavatmahal native in Maharashtra), and booked three cases.
Tarun Joshi, Warangal Police Commissioner, stated to reporters that the accused was seized with currency notes in various denominations worth Rs 2,051,14,000.
Police also seized 15 debit cards and 43 check books that were used to withdraw money from different banks.
Eight mobile phones that were being used to bet were also seized.
According to the Police Commissioner, each WhatsApp group on a mobile phone had between 150-200 members.
He explained the modus operandi by saying that the organisers were creating customers and sending them links with usernames and passwords to enable them to participate in online betting.
He stated that betting was done for every ball and each player.
The organizers offered big returns if a team had low winning chances.
They were also using the platform to play Teen Patti and other forms of gambling.
The police official clarified that such games are not allowed in Telangana.
He stated that because gambling is also an offense, customers who lose the money have not filed a complaint with the police.
The commissioner stated that a team would be sent to Mumbai, where the kingpin and other major organisers were operating.They used to keep 80 percent of the profit for themselves and transfer 20% to regional organizers like Prasad.
Police investigations revealed that Prasad had been arrested in two betting cases in Hyderabad in 2019.He was being monitored by the police in Hyderabad and he moved to Warangal several months ago to continue his illegal activities.
Joshi stated that the accused had also purchased property using money from a betting racket.The property was being investigated further by police, who also examined their bank accounts.
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