Amravati rural crime branch busts online betting racket on India-New Zealand T20, two arrested

The Local Crime Branch of Amravati Rural police has uncovered an illegal online betting racket operating on the India versus New Zealand T20 cricket match, after receiving information that online bets were being placed on the game. Two men have been arrested: the main suspect from Daryapur and his associate from Mangrulpir, who supplied him the app and link. The case has links to the Mangrulpir area of Washim district.

Acting on confidential information, a team raided the house of Shahbaz Salim Ghaniwale (28), who lives in the Kachhipura Banosa area of Daryapur. He was found taking bets from customers through a betting app called "Jai Shri Ram", sending them links from a laptop and mobile phone.

Police seized a laptop, two mobile phones and other material from him, together worth Rs 71,000. During questioning, Ghaniwale revealed that the link to the betting app had been given to him by Nitin Babanrao Thakre (40) of Mangrulpir. On this information, police also took Thakre into custody from Mangrulpir.

A case has been registered against both at Daryapur police station under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act and the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Both have thus been formally booked.

The action was carried out by Police Inspector Ashok Lande, Sub-Inspector Sagar Hatwar and their team. It is understood that bookies take online payments from customers for placing bets. It is also understood that, as the names of Salim and Ghaniwale of Mangrulpir surfaced, the Washim district cyber cell and the Washim Local Crime Branch have focused special attention on the Mangrulpir area.

Operation Kavach is being run to curb such betting. The latest action shows that police are keeping watch on online betting on cricket matches. Further investigation into the case is on.