Cricket betting racket busted, four bookies held

City police today claimed to have smashed a pan-India cricket betting racket with the arrest of four bookies who were allegedly accepting bets on Champions League T20 semifinal match.
Acting on reliable information, special teams had been constituted a few days ago under the supervision of Deputy Police Commissioner (Enforcement) Pravin Patil and accordingly a raid was conducted at a flat in Vireshwar Heights in suburban Vile Parel last evening, police said.
"Bookies Bipin Velji and his brother Paresh and two of their associates Anil Kamat and Pranay Gandhi were caught red handed while accepting bets on a semi-final match between Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab. The four were found accepting bets from people across India," a police officer from Social Service Branch alleged.

As many as 53 mobile phones, four laptops, cash of Rs 65,000 and foreign currency collectively valued at Rs 7.70 lakh were recovered from the accused, the officer added.
Preliminary probe brought to light stashing of ill-gotten money at Paresh's Borivali residence. "Accordingly, his residence in Kent Garden building was thoroughly searched and Rs 40.73 lakh were recovered," the officer added.
The four accused were later arrested under relevant sections of the IPC and further probe was on, police said.