Suspended IPS officer's disclosures turn spotlight on cricket betting

The multi-crore cricket betting racket that has been thriving in Bengaluru, with the support of top police officers and politicians, has come to the fore with suspended IPS officer Alok Kumar reportedly making a mention of a certain Mallikarjun alias ‘Fighter’ Ravi in his statement before the CID.

The reference to Ravi in the statement assumes significance as he is said to be the kingpin of the cricket betting racket in the City. Alok Kumar is said to have stated how he faced interference from some of his seniors and politicians when he tried to curb the cricket betting menace and arrest Ravi.

Sources say that after the State government banned all forms of lottery in 2007, the Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket, which kicked off in 2008, led to rampant cricket betting. Betting racket in the City has deep-rooted connections and the local bookies have direct access to big-time bookmakers in North India.

Sources in the police department said though Ravi’s involvement in cricket betting was known since 2009, no case was booked against him due to his proximity to politicians and senior police officials. The first case against Ravi was registered in Vyalikaval police station in 2011. Besides other sections under IPC for betting, Ravi was also booked under the Arms Act for possessing an unlicensed pistol. Though the City police had booked cases under the Arms Act and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, they have not used stringent measures, including pressing charges under the Goonda Act, against him.

“Ravi was booked in three cases in Vyalikaval police station in 2011 and 2014. In 2013, a case was booked in Basaveshwaranagar police station and another in Hulimavu. In 2014, a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act was registered in Thyagarajanagar police station. Till 2011, no action was taken against him since successive top police officers in the City police commissionerate protected him and prevented officers heading the Central Crime Branch police from taking action against him,” an official said.

Simultaneous raid
According to City police, Ravi’s involvement has not surfaced in the cricket betting cases in the last six months. However, a recent simultaneous raid at three different places in the City have shown his involvement. During the raids by Central Crime Branch (CCB) at an apartment on Sarjapur Road, at a gym in JP Nagar and a house in Nandini Layout, the police seized around Rs 50 lakh in cash, several cheque books and debit cards.

Sources said that one Satish Gowda, arrested from the gym – R A Fitness Centre – in JP Nagar, had revealed his links with Ravi and a certain Rakesh, a Mumbai-based bookie. Ravi is also said to have contacts with Kushal, a big-time bookie from Madhya Pradesh.

This apart, the recent nationwide raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), including at some places in Bengaluru, will throw more light on the City’s part in the IPL cricket betting. Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) M Chandrashekhar told Deccan Herald that the accused arrested in the recent raids by CCB had links with operatives in some North Indian states.

“As of now, I cannot comment on the raids conducted by the ED officials in the City. However, the accused arrested by CCB had links with operatives in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Mumbai. Further investigation in this regard is on,” he said.