Pune: In a significant crackdown on illegal betting activities during an Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, officials from the anti-extortion unit 1 of the Pune crime branch have apprehended two individuals from a residential complex in Salisbury Park. The arrests were made during a match between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans, shedding light on the persistent issue of online gambling within the city.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Wasim Bagwan (36), hailing from Hadapsar, and Tejas Ruparel (42), a resident of the Salisbury Park area. Acting on a tip-off regarding illicit betting operations, law enforcement officers swiftly raided the location, where the accused were found actively engaging in online betting through various websites, employing multiple IDs to evade detection.
Key Details:
- Location of Arrest: The arrests took place at a private housing society in the Salisbury Park area, highlighting the brazenness with which such activities were conducted within residential premises.
- Modus Operandi: Wasim Bagwan and Tejas Ruparel were allegedly facilitating bets for the IPL cricket match via an online application, acting as intermediaries for an unidentified handler based in Pune. The duo reportedly received commissions for each bet placed through their network.
- Seizure of Evidence: During the raid, law enforcement seized a significant amount of electronic devices, including mobile phones and laptops, believed to be instrumental in facilitating the illegal gambling operations.
- Legal Action Taken: A case has been registered at Swargate police station under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Information Technology Act, and Gambling Act, signaling the seriousness with which authorities are addressing such offenses.
- Repeat Offense: This incident marks the third instance of police intervention in dismantling betting rings associated with the ongoing IPL T-20 cricket tournament, underscoring the persistent challenge posed by illegal gambling networks.
