Cyberabad police bust illegal cricket betting racket, arrest 5

The Cyberabad police have been keeping a close watch on the activities of bookies and other individuals in view of the ongoing Pakistan Super League 2021.

Recently, the sleuths of the special operation team (SOT), Madhapur zone, received information about an online cricket betting being organized at Pavani Residency in Nizampet. On 21 June, the SOT with the help of Bachupally police apprehended five bookies while they were exchanging money related to cricket betting. The officers seized Rs. 20.5 lakh cash, 33 mobile phones, and other properties, all worth Rs. 23,80,000.

The five people who were arrested have been identified as Gunturi Satya Pavan Kumar, Uddara Raju Satheesh Raju (41), CH. Trinath (29), Nandipamu Bhaskar (31), and Jakkapudi Prasad (25). The main organizer, Somanna, is absconding. They are from East Godavari, West Godavari, and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh.

According to the police, Somanna is the key person behind the online cricket betting racket in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The illegal cash payment transactions are done online but in some cases, it is made in cash. The cash transaction between Somanna and Pavan Kumar happens through hawala money, the police said. Further, they said that many youth are indulging in online cricket betting and are losing large amounts.

The Cyberabad police issued an advisory asking parents to watch their children and check if they are indulging in betting. They also warned of theft of bank accounts and personal data which may result in unauthorized money transfer and blackmail.