JHARSUGUDA : With the IPL Twenty20 series in its qualifier rounds, betting has reached a high in several areas. On Monday, police arrested five bookies for accepting bets for the May 13 match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders. They have been forwarded to court.
Police seized Rs 7,85,600 cash and nine mobile phones, a calculator and some notebooks with the names of people betting.
The accused are Prateek Yadav (28) of Chowkipada, Raja Thakkar (28) and Sudip Modak (24) of Purnabasti, Sunil Sarda (39) Goshala Road, Rajkumar Hora alias Bunty (52) of Mangalbazar, all in Jharsuguda town. SDPO Puroshottam Sethy said, on tip-off police swooped down on the house of Prateek and searched his home. Police seized his mobile phone and on verification found a well-organised racket being operated by him. He revealed the names of four others.