The Ahmedabad Crime Branch apprehended six individuals for operating an online cricket betting scheme from a flat near the Memnagar area. The arrests were made during the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings, where the accused used multiple online cricket betting IDs. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided an apartment in Anand Park Society rented specifically for gambling activities.
Those arrested, including Kapil alias Chirag Thakkar, Abhay Thakkar, Yashkumar Akhani, Meet Jaiswal, Kalpesh Thakkar, and Dhruv Thakkar, are all originally from Banaskantha district. They were found not only placing bets but also selling betting IDs to others. The authorities confiscated 16 mobile phones valued at Rs 2,60,000 and cash amounting to Rs 50,110, totaling a seizure worth Rs 3,10,110.
Some suspects operated on a commission basis, while others directly placed bets on various platforms in real time. The police are currently investigating additional individuals, including Ronak Thakkar from Patan and Deep Thakkar from Ahmedabad, who are absconding and allegedly supplying betting IDs. Customers associated with the operation include Akash Lalwani of Ahmedabad, Kishan Thakkar of Gandhinagar, Jitu of Ahmedabad, and Zamak from Bhabhar.
An offence has been registered under the Gambling Act, and the investigation is ongoing to capture the remaining suspects and dismantle the network. Previously, the city’s Crime Branch had taken action against multiple cricket-related offenses related to online ticketing. In one instance last year, four men were arrested for unlawfully selling tickets to the IPL 2025 final match at inflated prices near the Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera. Furthermore, in March this year, a teenager in Ahmedabad was apprehended for trying to sell ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final tickets at a significant markup after acquiring them through legitimate online channels.
