1 month ago
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Visakhapatnam: The Visakhapatnam city police have cracked down on a major cricket betting operation, arresting eight individuals in two separate raids and uncovering transactions worth over 176 crore.
Acting on a tip-off, the city task force and cybercrime department conducted their first raid on Thursday at an apartment complex near the Peda-Waltair junction. Four suspects were initially arrested, with police seizing a laptop and two mobile phones during the operation.
City police commissioner Sankhabrata Bagchi revealed that the investigation has identified 80 bank accounts linked to the betting ring. "We have frozen approximately Rs 45 lakh from these accounts," said the commissioner. “Our preliminary investigation shows transactions totalling around Rs 140 crore, with more bank details yet to be received. Most of these are mule accounts used to facilitate illegal betting operations."
Following up on leads from the first operation, police conducted a second raid at the same location on Saturday, resulting in three more arrests. The ongoing investigation has now revealed that the total value of transactions has reached Rs 176 crore.
“Special teams have been formed to apprehend the main accused and other gamblers involved in this operation,” the commissioner stated. “The suspects arrested were involved in both online and offline cricket betting, as well as managing cash transactions for the betting gang. They have been remanded to custody.”
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