Pimpri Chinchwad police have arrested six individuals involved in illegal online betting on the IPL 2025 cricket match between Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants. The arrests were made following a raid on an apartment in Blue Ridge Society, Hinjawadi, late Tuesday night, where the accused were found placing bets using multiple online applications.
The accused have been identified as Ankush Yeshwant Kushwah (29), Vikram Lalit Jha (25), Ayush Kumar Jha (26), Gaurav Shivram Thengri (26), all residents of Hinjawadi, along with Vikash Govind Pardhi (24) from Gondia district and Premkumar Ishwardas Rajwani (52) from Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Police are actively searching for another accused named Mukesh, believed to be involved in the racket.
During the raid, the police seized four laptops, 18 mobile phones, and other electronic devices valued at approximately Rs 5,20,610. The accused were reportedly using popular online betting platforms such as Cricline, Cricket Live Line to place bets on the IPL match.
The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act and the Information Technology Act at the Hinjawadi police station. Assistant Police Inspector Somnath Panchal, leading the investigation, revealed that one of the accused, Premkumar Rajwani, had previously been booked for cricket betting in Jabalpur, indicating a larger network of illegal betting activities.
Illegal betting on IPL matches has been a persistent challenge for law enforcement agencies, with several raids and arrests reported across Maharashtra and other states during the ongoing IPL season. Pimpri Chinchwad police have been proactive in cracking down on such activities, conducting multiple raids in upscale residential societies where these betting rackets often operate.
Commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad Police, Vinoy Kumar Choubey, emphasized the serious social implications of illegal gambling and assured that stringent actions against such criminal elements will continue. “Many of those involved in these betting rackets have criminal backgrounds and operate from plush housing societies using international online platforms,” he said.
The police investigation is ongoing, with efforts to dismantle the entire betting network and identify other accomplices. Citizens are urged to report any suspicious betting activities to the authorities to help curb this illegal practice.
