BettingRacket – Police Crack International IPL Gambling Network in Andhra Pradesh
BettingRacket – The Anantapur district police have uncovered a major international cricket betting and online gaming operation that was allegedly being managed from the Philippines. During a raid conducted in Kalyanadurgam town, officers arrested 10 individuals suspected of running betting activities linked to IPL matches and illegal online casino platforms.
Large-Scale Betting Network Unearthed
According to Superintendent of Police P Jagadeesh, the operation came to light following intelligence gathered during the ongoing IPL season. Investigators believe the network had been functioning for nearly three years through an application identified as “Dream Play 1,” which was allegedly used to facilitate online casino games and cricket betting.
The accused arrested in the case belong to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Police identified them as Talari Madhu, Veparalla Mohammed alias Moula, Shaik Babjan, Shaik Roshan Vali, Makodiki Srinivasulu, Thimmayya, Raghavendra Pavan Kumar, Sunkaravaina Kiran, Rapaka Prashanth and Gaddavalasa Manikantha Raja.
Key Suspects Still Missing
Officials stated that two main suspects, identified as Sachin from Karnataka and another individual named Shiva, are currently absconding. Investigators suspect that Shiva has been operating from Makati in Metro Manila, Philippines, and coordinating betting activities remotely through digital platforms.
Police said Talari Madhu allegedly established contact with Shiva through Instagram before helping manage local operations connected to the betting network. Authorities are continuing efforts to trace the remaining accused and gather additional evidence regarding the international links of the racket.
Cash, Vehicles and Digital Devices Seized
During the operation, police recovered substantial assets believed to be connected to the illegal activities. Seized materials included cash amounting to ₹19.70 lakh, a Mahindra XUV700 vehicle, four motorcycles, three laptops, a tablet and 15 mobile phones. Officers also confiscated SIM cards, ATM cards, cheque books, scanners, pen drives and card readers allegedly used in the operation.
Authorities further froze ₹18.20 lakh spread across nine bank accounts linked to the accused. With the addition of the seized equipment and vehicles, the estimated value of recovered and frozen assets is said to be around ₹60 lakh.
Mule Accounts Allegedly Used for Transactions
Investigators revealed that the group allegedly obtained bank accounts, passbooks and SIM cards from nearly 70 individuals by offering payments of around ₹10,000 each. These accounts were reportedly used to move betting funds and conceal financial transactions connected to the gaming platform.
Police also suspect that several materials collected by the accused were routed through associates based in Delhi before being secretly shipped to the Philippines through cargo consignments. Authorities are now examining financial records and digital evidence to identify the wider network involved in the operation.
Raid Conducted During IPL Season
The arrests were made on May 4 after police teams conducted a targeted raid based on specific intelligence inputs related to IPL betting activities. Officers reportedly caught the accused while they were actively engaged in online betting operations at the location in Kalyanadurgam town.
The investigation remains ongoing, with officials focusing on tracing international connections, identifying additional financial beneficiaries and tracking the digital infrastructure used to run the alleged betting platform.