Multi-crore IPL betting racket busted in Varanasi, 7 held

Varanasi: Lanka police arrested a group of seven youths involved in IPL betting worth crores of rupees and recovered from them 10 mobile phones, two calculators and two notebooks used in operating the racket.

ACP Bhelupur Ishan Soni said on Tuesday that the betting gang was led by Harshit Chandani from Godowlia area. Other arrested bettors were identified as Vishwajeet Sinha, brothers Rajesh and Deepu Sinha, residents of Shakarkand Gali, along with Vikas Sonkar and Deepak Keshari from Bhelupur.

They had all gathered on the terrace of Vishwajeet Sinha's house in Chittupura area where Lanka police nabbed and sent them to jail after being produced before the court. During initial interrogation, they confessed to their involvement in illegal activities under the guise of IPL betting. They placed bets on players and runs in each match and paid winners as per the stake. They used to send IDs to people on Ola Vet and facilitate IPL betting for a commission. They reported their activities to Chandani and received 10% commission for organising the betting. They only placed cash bets as advances, while most of the betting transactions were conducted online. They placed bets worth crores of rupees on IPL matches and facilitated betting for hundreds of people luring them to earn big money fast and easy.