Ex-MNC man, another held for running betting racket worth Rs 1 cr

Two men, including a 40-year-old former employee of a multinational company, were arrested for allegedly operating a cricket betting racket during Sunday's India-Pakistan one-day international match in north Delhi, police said today.

Two men, including a 40-year-old former employee of a multinational company, were arrested for allegedly operating a cricket betting racket during Sunday's India-Pakistan one-day international match in north Delhi, police said on Monday.

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Identified as Ashwani Kumar and Akshay Chadha, 18, the duo had collected bets of approximately Rs 1 crore for the match, which was being played at the Ferozeshah Kotla stadium on Sunday, said Sindhu Pillai, deputy commissioner of police (north).

The duo were apprehended from a house in Pratap Nagar on a tip off, Pillai added.

"Two mobile phones were being used as 'Dabbas' or voice hot line boxes for receiving the rates apart from other mobile phones which were being used to accept bets. The match summary report of total betting till the time of the raid was found to be approximately R1 crore," said DCP Pillai.

According to police, Kumar, a graduate, used to work at an MNC before his desire for a lavish lifestyle made him indulge in cricket betting. Chadha, on the other hand, left school after class nine and started getting associated with bookies masquerading as friends.

"In fact, Chaddha was looking for a job when he met Kumar and other bookies who helped him learn the tricks of the trade and helped him get into the betting business," DCP Pillai said.

In all, police claimed, as many as eight mobile phones, an LCD TV and a laptop were being used by the duo to operate the alleged betting racket.