Nagpur: A high-stakes cricket betting racket operating during the Indian Premier League (IPL) season has exposed a direct nexus between bookies from Navi Mumbai’s Sanpada area and a prominent bookie based in Nagpur.
Acting on a tip-off, Vashi Crime Branch apprehended three individuals and uncovered that they were placing bets using an online ID provided by the Nagpur-based bookie.
The arrested accused have been identified as Shankar Kothekar (35), Sandeep Devgade (35), and Bharat Rude (20). The trio was allegedly accepting bets on ongoing IPL matches while operating from Sanpada, using technical and logistical support rooted in Nagpur.
Following the arrests, the Vashi Crime Branch team visited Nagpur as part of their ongoing investigation. Their presence reportedly created panic among local betting circles. Although names of Nagpur-based suspects have surfaced during preliminary investigations, police officials have refrained from revealing identities to avoid jeopardizing the probe.
Inspector Neeraj Chaudhary of Vashi Crime Branch’s Unit 1 confirmed that the accused were using an ID provided by a Nagpur-based operator. He also clarified that a person named Raj alias Hridayraj is not connected to the case yet, also dismissing reports claiming the seizure of a luxury Range Rover during the operation.
Ambazari Police Station’s Inspector Vivek Raut corroborated the Vashi team’s visit to Nagpur and stated that coordination between the two departments is ongoing.
Sources within the investigation revealed that multiple Nagpur-based bookies have reportedly gone underground following the crackdown. Vashi Crime Branch is likely to return to Nagpur to apprehend additional suspects and expand the investigation. Shankar Kothekar, one of the key accused, was found directly managing bets through the Nagpur-linked online ID.
Nagpur has long been under the scanner for its active betting networks, especially during major sporting events like the IPL. Investigators believe more high-profile names may emerge in the coming days as the operation widens.
