In a significant operation, the Pimpri Chinchwad Anti-Gunda Squad orchestrated a targeted crackdown in Pimpri, zeroing in on a bookie immersed in illegal betting during the England vs South Africa cricket match. The operation culminated in the confiscation of an astounding Rs 40 lakhs in cash. The apprehended individual, identified as Dinesh Harish Sharma (38) and residing in the Adi Amma Bliss Society in the Kalewadi area, was captured red-handed while participating in cricket betting via a mobile application.
Under the guidance of Assistant Police Inspector Harish Mane, the police swiftly acted upon vital information received. Technical analysis paved the way to Flat No. 701 in Adi Amma Bliss Society, Kalewadi, where the illicit betting activities were traced back to. Sharma, the prime suspect, had been employing the ‘Cricket Live Line Guru’ application to engage in betting. The odds provided were 1 rupee for 60 paise in the event of an England victory, and 1 rupee for 61 paise if South Africa triumphed. These odds fluctuated in tandem with the match’s unfolding dynamics, granting Sharma the opportunity to wager on the match’s ebb and flow through the application.
This decisive action forms a pivotal component of stringent measures aimed at curbing unlawful betting endeavors, particularly during high-profile events such as the ongoing World Cup 2023. The accused now faces charges under the Maharashtra Gambling Act and the Indian Telegraph Act, as per the case filed at the Wakad Police Station. In addition to the staggering sum of Rs 40.8 lakhs in cash, law enforcement officials also confiscated two mobile phones and a calculator from the accused and his associates.
