Four bookies arrested in Mumbai

The four were arrested on the charges of betting on the Champions Trophy final cricket match, reports Megha Sood.

In a raid conducted by the Crime branch unit X, four people were nabbed from an apartment in the Mhada colony in Chandivali (Andheir east) in the wee hours of Monday the four were arrested on the charges of betting on the Champions Trophy final cricket match between Australia and West Indies on Sunday night.

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According to Bharat Worlikar, Senior Police of Crime Branch Unit X, the accused were found placing and accepting bets through mobile phones during the ongoing day and night match played in at Brabourne stadium.

During the raid the police seized a television two-laptops 13 mobile phones, calculators Rs 1,19,000 and documents from their possession that reveal the entire record of the act.

A case has been registered against them under the Gambling Act.

The arrested were identified as Mitesh Kotharia, Hemant Dev, Bhavsh Soumaiyya and Bipin Shah.

“We have also seized a list from the spot that contains names of some people, who are suspected to be the punters. The four arrested were presented in the Killa court on Monday and have been remanded to police custody till November 13. We are investigating the case and suspecting a larger nexus. The phone records of the four will be checked to find out the names of their accomplices and other supporters,” said Worlikar.

“We have interrogated the four and have identified two kingpins of the racket, who would be arrested soon,” added Worlikar

According to a remand application filed by police, Kothari bought four of the mobile connections used in the racket in his relatives' name while the rest were secured illegally by forging documents.

“The arrested have been booked under various provisions of the Gambling Act, Information Technology Act and the IPC,” Worlikar said.

Author email: megha.sood@hindustantimes.com