Proddatur Cricket Betting Racket Busted: 13 Arrested, ₹25.46 Lakh Seized

Kadapa – Andhra Pradesh: In a major crackdown on organized cricket betting operations, Proddatur police arrested 13 persons and seized cash and assets worth over ₹25.46 lakh during a raid conducted on Yerraguntla main road bypass. Disclosing the details, ASP Vibhukrishna said the accused were running an illegal betting network through a cricket betting application and that preliminary investigations indicate links extending beyond India. Police have registered cases under the organized crime provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Digital surveillance leads police to betting den 

According to ASP Vibhukrishna, the operation was the culmination of sustained digital surveillance carried out by the police.

Acting on intelligence gathered through monitoring activities, police conducted a raid on a shop located on the Yrraguntla main road bypass in Proddatur, where an illegal cricket betting operation was allegedly being run.

During the operation, police arrested a total of 13 persons, including key accused Javed alias Balaji, Jilani and several others allegedly involved in the betting network.

₹25.46 lakh seized during operation

Police seized substantial amounts of cash and financial assets linked to the betting activities.

The seizure included ₹11,35,000 in cash recovered during the raid and ₹14,12,288 frozen in bank accounts connected to the accused. In total, authorities seized and froze assets worth ₹25,46,288.

Additionally, police confiscated 17 mobile phones and one tablet device which are believed to have been used for betting transactions and account management.

Betting conducted through ‘Taj’ application Cricket 

ASP revealed that the accused allegedly operated the racket using APK files associated with a cricket betting application identified as “Taj.”

According to the police, the accused collected betting amounts from participants, maintained betting records digitally, and settled profits and losses on a weekly basis.

Officials believe the seized electronic devices may contain crucial evidence relating to betting transactions and financial flows.

International links emerge during preliminary investigation

ASP Vibhukrishna stated that preliminary investigation has uncovered indications that the betting network extends beyond domestic boundaries.

Police suspect that the operation may have connections not only across different parts of India but also with networks operating abroad.

Further investigation is underway to identify additional accused, financial trails, and the full extent of the syndicate’s operations.

Organized crime charges invoked under BNS

Given the scale and nature of the alleged operation, police have initiated stringent legal action under the organized crime provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Officials indicated that the case is being treated as part of a larger organized criminal network rather than an isolated betting activity.

Police team commended for successful operation

The ASP praised the efforts of the police personnel involved in the operation.

The raid and subsequent arrests were carried out under the leadership of Two Town CI Vamsi, SI Raghavender Reddy, Head Constable Sanjeev, Constables Gurushekhar and Madhusudan Reddy along with other members of the police team.

ASP Vibhukrishna commended the officers for their swift action, effective coordination, and successful execution of the raid, arrests, and seizures.

Investigation continues

ASP stated that further investigation is underway to identify additional beneficiaries of the betting network, trace financial transactions, uncover interstate and international connections, and determine the full scale of the organized betting operation.

Authorities have indicated that more arrests and seizures may follow as the investigation progresses.