Tinsukia: In a significant breakthrough, the Tinsukia police apprehended an alleged mastermind involved in operating an online betting racket during IPL cricket matches. The operation led to the recovery of over Rs 10 lakh from the suspect’s residence on Friday morning.
The accused has been identified as Bikash Beria, a resident of the Manav Kalyan Road locality in the town.
Confirming the development, Superintendent of Tinsukia Police, Abhijeet Gurav, stated that a raid was conducted at Bikash Beria’s residence by a team of Tinsukia police, led by the Deputy Superintendent. During the raid, cash amounting to Rs 10,76,300 was seized from the premises.
“The raid was conducted based on compelling evidence related to Tinsukia PS case number 122/24. The accused has been brought to the Tinsukia police station for interrogation,” said Gurav. He further added that the accused will be formally arrested and presented before a judicial magistrate.
Speaking with EastMojo, Gurav emphasised the gravity of online betting rackets in cricket matches, stating that it is a serious offense that cannot be overlooked under the Assam Gambling Act. He affirmed the police’s commitment to unraveling all links associated with this racket, gathering substantial evidence to ensure that the accused do not evade conviction easily.
According to sources, a recent arrest of a small-time bookie, Supreet Biswas, led to vital information during the investigation.
The accused allegedly solicited participants through WhatsApp and text messages, utilizing an online betting website for the transactions. “Several small bookies operate under the mastermind, forming a complex network akin to a business hierarchy,” revealed a source familiar with an earlier investigation into the IPL betting scam involving Bikash Beria.
The source elaborated, “The entire illicit business operates through mobile phones, apps, and websites. During peak seasons, the master bookie often operates from luxury hotels in different states to evade detection. Bookies frequently change phones, formats, and destroy digital evidence, posing challenges for investigating agencies in collecting concrete evidence for convictions.”
The pernicious impact of this menace on society, particularly on school and college students, has been profound. Reports suggest that many youths have succumbed to the lure of easy money, engaging in petty crimes such as theft or borrowing money to place bets, resulting in significant financial losses.
In a previous incident in 2015, Beria was arrested for operating a betting racket during IPL matches. It has been learned that the Crime Branch of Assam Police is also investigating him in a separate case.
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