Int’l IPL betting racket being operated from rented house busted, 8 arrested

Indore: Crime Branch busted international online betting syndicate operating from a rented house in the city and arrested eight people who were allegedly taking bets on IPL matches through a foreign-based website, police said on Wednesday.The accused were caught during a late-night raid at a house in Bapji Nagar where they had allegedly set up a high-tech betting operation using laptops, smartphones, Wi-Fi routers and a large LED television to monitor live matches. Police said that the racket was active during the IPL clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, with bets being placed on every ball and over.Crime Branch officials said the accused were operating through a platform called, Premium Clients Book, which was allegedly being used for online cricket betting and casino gambling. During the raid, officers found eight men actively handling betting transactions while watching the live match on television.Police seized 23 smartphones and iPhones, three laptops, a 55-inch smart LED TV, a high-speed Wi-Fi router, 13 debit cards and four registers containing betting records and transaction details. The total value of the seized material has been estimated at around Rs 10.57 lakh.Investigators said the registers revealed details of transactions linked to nearly 15 accounts associated with multiple banks. The accused allegedly generated secret IDs and passwords for clients after receiving online payment through different bank accounts.The Crime Branch officials said, the racket was being run discreetly from the rented premises, with most of the accused maintaining a low profile by working in private jobs, including delivery services.Police identified Kunal Das, a resident of Jabalpur currently staying in Bapji Nagar, as the kingpin of the operation. Officials said he had allegedly contacted other members through Telegram and lured them to Indore with promises of good jobs before involving them in the betting network.The arrested accused include residents of Jabalpur and Odisha’s Khurda, Nayagarh and Bhubaneswar districts. Police suspect the syndicate may also have links extending to Dubai and said further investigation is underway to trace the financial trail, freeze bank accounts and identify other members connected to the network.A case has been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Public Gambling Act and the IT Act. Police said this is the fourth major action by Indore Crime Branch against IPL-related online betting this season, with 19 accused arrested in four cases so far.