<p>A sitting councillor of the BJP is among seven people to be arrested in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday for running cricket betting through a WhatsApp group.<br /><br /></p>.<p>C S Ravikumar, who represents ward number 29 in the City Municipal Council, was apprehended by the District Crime Intelligence Bureau. He is said to be close to the BJP Chikkamagaluru MLA, C T Ravi.<br /><br />Other suspects are Abhi, a close aide of Ravikumar, Prashanth, a resident of Kote, Venkatesh, a lorry operator, Mohan, a fertiliser trader, and Afzal, who is secretary of a place of worship. Police said they had seized Rs 1.90 lakh in cash, cheque leaves and mobile phones. The eighth suspect, a GP member, is at large.<br /><br />Chikkamagaluru SP, K Annamalai, said the suspects had contacts with bookies within and outside Karnataka. “We also have evidence that a few elected representatives are also part of this racket,” he told DH.<br /><br />The group became active in 2014 and set up hotlines in Bengaluru and Sakleshpur. It went on to spread its network to Mumbai and Mysuru. Ravikumar created a WhatsApp group to lure members, and transactions took place online.<br /><br />Annamalai said at least Rs 50 lakh was transacted during the Big Bash League of Australia, the recent T20 series between England and India and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.</p>
<p>A sitting councillor of the BJP is among seven people to be arrested in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday for running cricket betting through a WhatsApp group.<br /><br /></p>.<p>C S Ravikumar, who represents ward number 29 in the City Municipal Council, was apprehended by the District Crime Intelligence Bureau. He is said to be close to the BJP Chikkamagaluru MLA, C T Ravi.<br /><br />Other suspects are Abhi, a close aide of Ravikumar, Prashanth, a resident of Kote, Venkatesh, a lorry operator, Mohan, a fertiliser trader, and Afzal, who is secretary of a place of worship. Police said they had seized Rs 1.90 lakh in cash, cheque leaves and mobile phones. The eighth suspect, a GP member, is at large.<br /><br />Chikkamagaluru SP, K Annamalai, said the suspects had contacts with bookies within and outside Karnataka. “We also have evidence that a few elected representatives are also part of this racket,” he told DH.<br /><br />The group became active in 2014 and set up hotlines in Bengaluru and Sakleshpur. It went on to spread its network to Mumbai and Mysuru. Ravikumar created a WhatsApp group to lure members, and transactions took place online.<br /><br />Annamalai said at least Rs 50 lakh was transacted during the Big Bash League of Australia, the recent T20 series between England and India and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.</p>
