Khushi Gupta
Published on: May 15, 2022 at 13:14 IST
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a Probe against a Nationwide Network of bookies who allegedly influenced the outcome of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in 2019 after receiving inputs from Pakistan, people familiar with development said on Saturday.
It is alleged the accused ran a nationwide network to induce public to bet on cricket matches.
“Reliable information has been received about a network of individuals involved in cricket betting influencing the outcome of Indian Premier League matches based on inputs received from Pakistan,” the Federal Agency said in the First Information Reports.
“In the garb of betting related to Indian Premier League matches, they are cheating the general public by inducing them to bet.”
“For this purpose, they have opened bank accounts (Mule Accounts) using Fake Identities and Know Your Customer (KYC) documents in connivance with the unknown bank officials.”
“These bank accounts have been opened by submitting forged details such as multiple dates of birth and without due diligence done by the bank officials”, the agency added.
A part of the money received from the public in India for betting was being shared by their associates based in Foreign Countries using Hawala transactions, the agency further said. Investigators are looking for a larger conspiracy in the matter, according to an official who declined to be named.
The agency has tracked transactions worth around Rs.10 crore, including cash deposits in the accounts of Kumar, Satish and Vasu, and ₹80 lakh in accounts of Rajasthan-based Accused.
Dileep Kumar was operating a number of bank accounts in which domestic cash deposits worth over Rs. 43 lakhs have been made since 2013, defying Economic Rationale, Central Bureau of Investigation said.
It also detected that in the six bank accounts operated by Gurram Satish, cash deposits worth ₹4.55 crore (domestic) and ₹3.05 lakh (foreign) have been made during 2012-20, and in the Case of Gurram Vasu, the amount was ₹5.37 crore during the period.
According to the First Information Report, “The persons involved are running the racket of cricket betting, committing Fraud by inducing betting by the general public and thereby deceiving public of their hard-earned money and also indulging in impersonating their identities in operating various bank accounts.”