Now, bookies run for cover as Cong win topples bets

In fact, sources say that five major bookies — Lakmichand Thana alias ‘LT’, Samrat alias Hitesh Gala, Rangwala alias Subhash Indore, M. Balaji alias Nilesh and Rajdhani Pali alias Satpal Singh — met top police officials on May 13 and May 14, to strike a deal. In return for Rs 3.5 crore, the police would scare away punters and others who come to claim their money.

Before the Andhra Pradesh Assembly poll results were announced, a harbinger of trends at the Centre, it was presumed that the BJP would get 175 seats and the rate offered was 55 paise on a bet of Re 1 for the party whereas it was Rs 1.75 for the Congress getting 100 seats.

The bookies were so sure that the Congress would not bag even 150 seats that they offered Rs 10 on every bet of Re 1 for 140 seats and Rs 6 and for 125 seats. After the Andhra Pradesh results were announced, the returns on the Congress getting 100 seats dropped to just 60 paise on every Re 1 bet.

Thane Police Commissioner S. Chakravarty told The Indian Express: ‘‘I am not aware that any betting had taken place. Nor that bookies had defaulted on payments.’’ He added that he was also not aware that certain police officials had been approached by the major bookies.

Betting in Thane has gained momentum after Mumbai’s Police Commissioner A.N. Roy began to crack down on betting rackets in the city. At present, Thane is home to 46 bookies.