Cafes, restaurants most sought after abode for Hyderabad punters

Hyderabad: From shady motels to apartments to restaurant cafes, the cricket betting gangs and punters have been setting up their gadgets in these places to monitor the pulse of the game and act instantly to rake in the cash for themselves and their clients. 

But from day one of the high-pitched IPL league, the city police have stepped up their combing operations and have been cracking down on the gangs. So far 10 gangs have been wrapped up by the police across the three Commissionerates.

“The IPL bettings and gangs that manage these gambles are always under our radar. Every year we nab quite a few of them but the gangs seem to resurface every season. Even after numerous crackdowns, they crop up everywhere,” said the Additional DCP, Commissioner's Task Force, Mr S. Chaitanya Kumar, adding that in their current avatar, the new gangs are smarter, taking a while to transfer the amounts unlike earlier, to avoid suspicion.

“We have nabbed around 10 gangs in Hyderabad so far in this IPL season and although no major gang was caught, the small operatives who operate from common places in the housing societies are being picked up by the Task Force officials,” said the DCP.

On Saturday, two gangs were busted and seven men were nabbed by West Zone Task Force police, while they were dealing in Mehdipatnam. Officials seized Rs 1,72,200 lakhs, one laptop and 16 cell phones from them.

“What makes it difficult for us to get to them sooner is the quick exchanging of mobile numbers right after the bettings are done. Also, the increased usage of social media platforms and code words to communicate. Some of the bookies have shifted their base and have gone online, which is another hurdle for us,” said the Additional DCP.

“Earlier this month, a gang of childhood friends hatched a plan to organize cricket bettings and ran the racket for two months in Mangalhat. They were picked up with the help of a tip off by our officials", said the DCP, Commissioner's Task Force, Mr. P. Radha Krishna Rao.

“The gangs are formed and dispersed quickly and the punters send in their amounts via appointed 'agents' who act as a mule on commission basis. Unless we closely monitor their movements, it is a tough task to crack down on them,” added Mr. Kumar.

In another major crackdown in Rachakonda on Saturday, Special Operations Team Malkajgiri bust a major online betting racket run by Jaipur based bookies, which was operated by organisers in the city and other parts of the State. 12 persons, including the main organizer Chintakindi Saikiran, an MNC HR, four students and a private bank employee were arrested, said the Police Commissioner of Rachakonda, Mr Mahesh Bhagwat. “While Saikiran received calls and updated the punters on the bets and the amounts, others put in the details in registers and MS excel sheets. He has been into this illegal business for the past three years,” said Mr. Bhagwat. The police seized Rs 7.05 lakh cash, gadgets, one car and other materials from their possession.