Kolkata Police busts IPL betting racket at Girish Park's Lords Café

Kolkata Police raided Lords Café at 62, Vivekananda Road, Girish Park, arresting four individuals for running an IPL 2025 betting racket during the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) vs. Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) match. Acting on a tip-off, the police seized multiple mobile phones used for betting through apps like "SkyBets365," "Wolf777," "KeralaExch," "11XPlay," and "Gameswala." The arrested individuals were identified as Majid, Shadab Ali (30), Adarsh Nigam (27), and Prabhat Jaiswal (30).

Investigators found that the accused were using encrypted applications to place real-time bets while watching the match at Eden Gardens. Authorities suspect the betting network operates beyond Girish Park, with financial transactions now under scrutiny. Police officials confirmed that the accused were taken into custody under relevant sections of the Public Gambling Act, and further action is being considered based on the findings.

Previous cases of cricket betting have been reported in Kolkata, especially during IPL seasons. Law enforcement has intensified surveillance on betting hotspots, urging citizens to report such activities. Authorities continue to investigate the source of funds and potential links to larger betting operations.