Early speculation from bookie circles indicated that despite Mumbai and Delhi police’s crackdown on betting and spot-fixing syndicate, the betting on IPL matches would continue and not stop. However, now an interesting fact has emerged, as sources said that betting on the name of a bookie already arrested by Mumbai crime branch and now in jail, is still carrying on.
The bookie has been identified as Pravin Ambalal Behra, alias PD, who was arrested from his Bhandup residence on May 16. Ten cellphones and one laptop were seized from him. On Wednesday, he was sent to judicial custody and lodged in Arthur Road Jail.
Sources said Behra runs a (betting) book by his alias name PD. However, despite his arrest, his book has been kept running by two of his bookie friends — Kothari and Nako — who are also accused in the Mumbai police case, and are believed to be operating from Rajasthan. Sources added that bets were accepted and placed through his book and since he is inside jail, other bookies are keeping the book, as PD is famous in the bookie circle and it cannot be afforded at this stage of the IPL season.
The six bookies, who were sent to judicial custody on Wednesday, have been kept in barrack number 10 of Arthur Road Jail that also houses members of Dawood gang. This is the indication that all the bookies are suspected to be associated with the “D” gang, as it’s a practice that members of one gang are kept together as a safety measure.