Budding cricketer cheated by cyber fraudsters of Rs 24 lakh in Chikkodi

Belagavi: A budding cricketer from Chinchani village in Chikkodi taluk was cheated of Rs 24 lakh by cyber fraudsters who promised him a place in the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.

The cricketer had credited the money to the account given by fraudsters in the period from November 2024 to April 2025.

The victim has been identified as Rakesh Bhimappa Yadur from Chinchani in Chikkodi. Rakesh had participated in the Rising Bharat Cricket League event held at Hyderabad in May 2024 and had garnered praise for his all-round performance.

Superintendent of Police Dr Bheemashankar Guled informed reporters here on Wednesday that cyber fraudsters contacted Rakesh in October last and assured him that he would get selected to the IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals team. The fraudsters had sent a form for Rs 2,000 and also lured him with the promise that he would get Rs 10 lakh as remuneration for every match.

The fraudsters pretended to follow up with the franchise to get the cricketer selected and asked the victim to deposit money in the bank account. Rakesh’s father who works as a security guard with KSRTC took loans and got money deposited in the bank account.

When the father and son realised that they had been cheated, they filed a complaint with the District CEN police, he said.

"During verification of the bank accounts given by the fraudsters, it has come to the notice that the money deposited has immediately been withdrawn. We suspect the fraudsters to be from Rajasthan and a team of District CEN police will visit the state for investigations," Dr Guled stated.