Navi Mumbai: Crime Branch Busts Illegal IPL Betting Operation, Arrests Three Accused

Navi Mumbai: The Navi Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested three individuals for allegedly accepting bets on the Rajasthan Royals vs. Kolkata Knight Riders IPL match on March 26. Police also seized electronic gadgets worth ₹2.66 lakh, used to commit the crime.

With bookies using advanced technology to conduct covert betting operations, the Crime Branch had been gathering intelligence to identify such networks. On March 26, 2025, officers received credible information about an illegal online betting racket operating from a rented apartment in a prestigious housing society in Sanpada. The accused were allegedly accepting bets remotely from Navi Mumbai.

Acting on the tip-off, a special team was formed under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amit Kale and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajaykumar Landge. Late in the evening, the police raided Room No. C/103 at Akhurath Co-op Housing Society, Sector 14, Sanpada. During the operation, they apprehended three suspects: Shankar Suresh Kothekar from Nagpur, Sandeep Narayan Devgade from Yavatmal, and Bharat Murlidhar Rude from Yavatmal.

The investigation revealed that the accused were running the illegal betting operation in coordination with other accomplices, who are currently being traced by authorities. Police seized a laptop, a tablet, 11 mobile phones, an LED TV, and other betting-related equipment, with a total estimated value of ₹2,66,950.

A case has been registered at Sanpada Police Station under Section 4 of the Maharashtra Gambling Prohibition Act and Sections 66(A) and 84(B) of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The accused were produced in court, which granted police custody remand until March 29, 2025.

DCP Amit Kale stated that Navi Mumbai Police remain committed to dismantling illegal betting networks during the high-stakes IPL season. “The Crime Branch has launched an operation to track and eliminate illegal online gambling activities in the city,” he added.