5 arrested in Kolkata for running cricket betting racket

The Anti-Rowdy Squad (ARS) of Kolkata Police apprehended five individuals, namely Abhisekh Jaiswal, Arun Agarwal, Pradip Barma, Keshab Prasad Mundra, and Kalu Shaw, from various locations in the city for their alleged involvement in operating a cricket betting racket during the ongoing ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023. The arrests were conducted based on credible source information, with the accused utilizing multiple betting apps to place illicit bets on cricket matches.

Cases have been registered under Section 120B/420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competition Act at the respective police stations, while further investigation into the matter remains underway.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) responded to the situation by issuing blocking orders against 22 "illegal betting apps and websites," including Mahadev Book and Reddyannaprestopro. This action was taken in light of the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) investigation into an illegal betting app syndicate and subsequent raids on Mahadev Book in Chhattisgarh, which exposed the app's involvement in unlawful operations.