Police bust real-time online gambling syndicate

New Delhi: A hi-tech IPL betting syndicate operating through mobile applications and live digital platforms from a building in east Delhi’s Madhu Vihar was busted, and three people, including a B.Com graduate and two businessmen, were arrested.The accused were allegedly using sophisticated betting software, live-streaming devices, laptops, tablets and multiple mobile phones to monitor betting odds, coordinate with punters and maintain wagering accounts in real time.The accused were identified as Manish Jain (50), Abhishek Jain (26) and Arpit Gupta (40).Police said they received information on May 23 regarding online IPL betting allegedly conducted by Manish along with his associates. The information further revealed that the accused were actively operating an online betting racket during IPL T-20 matches and were likely to place heavy bets during the IPL match between Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings.Deputy commissioner of police (east) Rajeev Kumar said a raid was conducted at the upper floor of a building in Madhu Vihar, where the three accused were apprehended.“Live streaming of the IPL match was running on tablet devices and the accused persons were allegedly coordinating betting activities with punters through phone calls,” he said.On noticing the police team, the accused allegedly attempted to flee and created chaos at the spot; however, they were overpowered and arrested.Police recovered nine mobile phones, two laptops, two tablets, a notepad, a pen and betting-related records from the spot.Manish was engaged in the rental business and was allegedly operating the illegal IPL betting racket from his residence, while his nephew Abhishek is a commerce graduate. Arpit, who runs an ice-cream agency, was allegedly acting as a partner in the illegal betting operation.