IPL betting racket busted in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Police in Kolkata have arrested five men for allegedly running an inter-state betting racket on the results of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches.

The arrests were made late Monday during a raid on an apartment in the West Bengal capital.

"We have arrested Adarsh Mehta, Vishnu Mundra, Mayanku Damamni, Baldev Damani and Dilip Sharma," Deputy Police Commissioner (detective department) Jawed Shamim said.

Shamim said the police were tipped off that some people were running a cricket betting racket from an apartment in north-eastern Kolkata.

"The gang started operating from the very first Twenty20 match at Bangalore. The match at Eden Gardens here was also highly betted upon.

"The gang has its partners in Mumbai and London," Shamim said.

Police have seized Rs.160,000, a television set, recording gear, a computer, mobile phones, score sheets, balance sheets and a tele-conversation machine from their apartment.

"The balance sheets will help us to find out the exact amount of money betted upon. Besides we are investigating their background, their mode of operation and other related details," Shamim added.