VASCO
Verna police have stepped up their investigation into an IPL betting racket uncovered in Sancoale, even as the four accused arrested in the case were later released on bail, as the offence falls under bailable provisions.
Police said they are now focusing on tracing the wider network behind the illegal betting activity and ensuring such operations do not resume in their jurisdiction.
Efforts are also under way to examine the electronic devices seized during the raid to identify possible links and financial trails connected to the racket.
It may be recalled that a late-night raid conducted between 10.40 pm on April 11 and 3.30 am on April 12 at the first floor of a house in Shindolim-Sancoale exposed an illegal betting operation on an IPL match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals.
The accused ” Pranjal Tiwari (23) of Uttar Pradesh, Amar Dawda (33) of Chhattisgarh, Shashank Kumar Sahu (19) of Uttar Pradesh and Sandeep Singh (23) of Uttar Pradesh ” were caught red-handed while allegedly accepting bets from the rented premises where they were staying.
During the raid, police seized 10 mobile phones, two laptops, one tablet, an internet router with signal receiver, and cash amounting to Rs 37,000, with a total value of around Rs 2.5 lakh. The accused were arrested in the early hours of April 12.
Police said strict vigil will continue, with increased checks and intelligence gathering to prevent any repeat of IPL-related betting activities in the area.
An earlier report in The Goan (April 13), based on police records, had stated that the four accused were staying in rented premises near the Bhoj Naik house in Shindolim-Sancoale.
Bhoj Naik has stated that he has no connection, direct or indirect, with the accused and did not rent any premises to them. He added that the reference to his house is only geographical and any link to the incident is false.
