Staff Reporter
Panaji
Panaji police have busted an alleged IPL cricket betting racket and arrested four accused persons, all natives of Gujarat, during a raid in a starred hotel in the city in the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Police also seized 6 mobile phones, a laptop and other accessories all worth around Rs 4,10,000. Manishkumar Krishnani (39), Gopalbai Kokra (45), Sandeep Panjwani (30) and Jitendra Karmani (36) have been arrested in connection with the case, the police said. A complaint on behalf of the state was lodged by PSI Saheen Shetye.
Police said that between 10.20 pm of April 11 and 1.30 am of April 12 at room number 416 on the 4th floor of the hotel, the accused persons were caught red-handed while accepting bets on mobile phone/online on the IPL cricket match played between Knight Riders v/s Chennai Super Kings. The raid was conducted by the Panaji police team under the supervision of PI Vijaykumar Chodankar.
So far this month, the Goa police have booked eight cases related to IPL betting, leading to the arrest of 51 individuals and the seizure of articles worth over Rs 51 lakh. Of the eight cases, four were registered by the Crime Branch, two by the Porvorim police, one each by the Calangute police and the Panaji police.
Police said that all those arrested in connection with these cases are from outside Goa.