Head Constable Suspended over Cricket Betting Links

Visakhapatnam: Visakhapatnam city police commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi has suspended a head constable from the special branch after uncovering evidence of his alleged involvement in cricket betting operations.

P. Ganga Raju, who served as head constable in the city special branch, was suspended with immediate effect following a preliminary investigation that revealed sustained contact with known cricket bookies. An analysis of his call records showed that the constable had maintained communication with the accused bookies from 2023 to 2024.

“We have zero tolerance for corruption within our ranks. All officers and staff members of the city police department are expected to maintain complete transparency in their duties. Any involvement in illegal activities, abuse of power, or corruption will be met with swift and strict action,” said Commissioner Shankhabrata Bagchi while announcing the suspension.

To strengthen anti-corruption measures, the commissioner has set up a dedicated number—7995095799—for reporting bribery attempts or demands by police personnel. He assured that all complaints would be handled with complete confidentiality.