Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on illegal sports betting, Puri police on Wednesday dismantled an IPL betting racket, arresting four individuals and seizing over Rs 25 lakh in cash. Additionally, authorities froze Rs 31.81 lakh from the suspects' bank accounts, according to officials.
Details of the Arrest
The accused have been identified as Prasanna Prusty, B Nageswar Rao, Biswanath Lenka, and Ramakanta Sahoo, all in their 40s and residents of Puri district. They were apprehended following a tip-off received by the cyber police station.
“Our cyber police station received credible information about betting on IPL matches. Acting on the tip-off, a raid was conducted near Masani Chandi temple where several persons were found participating in betting,” said SP (Puri) Prateek Singh.
Modus Operandi
Police investigation revealed that the accused were operating through an online betting application. They allegedly lured hundreds of unsuspecting individuals to place bets on ongoing IPL matches. Interrogation and mobile phone verification confirmed their involvement in the illegal activity.
During personal searches, police seized Rs 3.04 lakh in cash and six mobile phones. A subsequent raid at Prusty's residence led to the recovery of Rs 22.31 lakh in cash, suspected to be proceeds of illegal betting.
Bank Accounts Frozen
“During investigation, deposits worth Rs 31.81 lakh in their accounts have been frozen. It has also been established that they have been running this illegal business in Puri city for the past two years,” Singh said.
Police sources revealed that Prusty and his associate Sahoo had prior criminal records. Efforts are underway to trace and arrest other members of the racket.
The operation underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to curb illegal betting activities, especially during high-profile sporting events like the IPL.
