Colva: In a significant crackdown on illegal betting activities, the Colva Police apprehended eight individuals from Karnataka involved in an IPL betting operation. Acting on received information, the police conducted a targeted raid on a rented premises late Saturday night near I Jack Corner, Vaswaddo Vaddie, Benaulim.
The arrested individuals were identified as Bhushan Pujari, Rishikesh Krishnaji Patil, Kapil Sawant, Omkar Pramod Patil, Afrid S/o Hanif Nadumbil, Tohil S/o Jamil Bidikar, Shubham S/o Manohar Patil, and Sayed Ali S/o Ramzan Bagwan, all residents of Khanapur, Belgav, Karnataka.
They were caught red-handed operating a betting racket during the ongoing IPL cricket match between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Gujarat Titans, Match No. 52. The operation involved accepting bets on the match within a secluded premises specifically used for betting purposes.
During the raid, the police confiscated mobile phones, betting paraphernalia, and a vehicle, along with a sum of Rs. 18,00,000 believed to be proceeds from the illegal activities.
The Colva Police are actively pursuing further leads to identify and dismantle other such betting gangs operating in the locality. It's noted that cricket betting during the IPL season is widespread, with gangs from different states often renting secluded bungalows or houses to evade detection.
