Youth booked for online betting over India vs South Africa cricket match

Acting on a tip-off, the police team laid a trap and nabbed Lakhwani on a public road near Waghere Park society in Pimpri around 6.50 pm on Saturday.

Assistant police inspector Digambar Atigre, the investigation officer of the case, said the accused Lakhwani was taking bets on the cricket match between India and South Africa on his cell phone through the ‘Taj777 App.’

Atigre said a cell phone worth Rs 1 lakh was seized from the accused. “A notice has been issued to accused Lakhwani for further investigation,” said Atigre.

He said a search is on for two more persons identified as Pande and Kiran, who were also allegedly found involved in illegal online cricket betting with Lakhwani. All three accused are booked under sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act and the Indian Telegraphy Act.

Nearly a week before, the Pimpri Chinchwad police had arrested three persons for allegedly operating an illegal online betting racket through ‘Reddy Anna’, a banned betting web application.

Police have identified the accused as Rajendra Ladual Gadri (20) of Rajasthan, Tejeshwar Rao (25) of Chhatisgarh and Chandankumar Rajendra Pande (30) of Uttar Pradesh.

Police said the accused were allegedly found taking bets on an international cricket match between India and South Africa on November 30 through the banned ‘Raddy Anna’ app at a rented apartment in Mulshi.