Mumbai bookie

Pune police crime branch Saturday arrested a Mumbai-based bookie in the alleged IPL betting racket. Bookie Nilesh Sumatilal Kothari,36,a resident of Panvel district Raigad allegedly received bets from a city-based bookie Ahmed Abdul Rahman Khoja alias Guddu (already arrested) who,in-turn,allegedly collected bets from several individuals for the Rajasthan Royals vs Hyderabad Sunrisers match on May 22.

Guddu was arrested from a residential society in Vadgaon Sheri on May 22. Police seized mobile phones,laptops and television sets from his apartment. The other three have been identified as Azim Aziyani (26),Altaf Lakhani (46) and Hussain Sangliwala (31).

Arguing for a seven-day custody of the suspect,Inspector Sunil Tambe of Crime Branch said,“We believe he was involved in the betting for a long time and hence we need time to interrogate him of his connection.”