Hyderabad: Two held for cricket betting

Hyderabad: With cricket fever gripping the nation, cricket betting too is reaching new highs. East Zone Team busted a cricket betting racket and apprehended two men from Chudi Bazar of Shahinayatgunj. Cash of Rs.1.18 lakhs was seized from them plus one bike and four cell phones.

The arrested were identified as Manyam Swamy, 38, an auto driver from Chudi bazar, and K.Sainath, 37, a resident of Kachiguda, the police said, adding that two more associates, Suraj and Vishal were absconding.

“Swamy and Sainath were friends and they came in contact with one Suraj, a cricket bookie who accepted cricket bettings from the punters over the phone clandestinely, but in an organised way. Suraj convinced them that it was an easy way of earning a lot of money and the two joined him. Suraj appointed them as collecting agents for betting amounts and promised to pay them good commission”, said the Additional DCP of Commissioner’s Task Force, S. Chaitanya Kumar.

On Tuesday, after a tip-off, East Zone Task Force team apprehended the two persons along with cricket betting amounts which were collected from one of their known punters, Vishal along with other punters known to Suraj. The betting was for the cricket match played between Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore at Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai.

The arrested duo and the seized property were handed over to Shahinayatgunj police for further action.