Efforts on to nab big fish involved in the cricket betting racket, says Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner

Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi updates on cricket betting cases, cybercrime involvement, and property offences prevention during holidays.

Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi said that investigation is in progress from all angles into the cricket betting case which was busted at the Doctors Colony in the city. As on January 21, as many as 10 persons were arrested for their alleged involvement in the case, he said, adding that the police has set a target to nab the big fish involved in the betting racket.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Mr. Bagchi said that as of now, they were checking various bank accounts, financial transactions and arresting people involved. After interrogating them, more people involved would be nabbed, he said.

“We wanted to be one step ahead of the criminals. So, we have involved the cybercrime police in the case. Using latest technology, the cybercrime police are focussing on bookies and our target is to nab big fish,” he said, adding that more details of the case cannot be revealed, since the investigation is in progress.

Mr. Shankhabrata Bagchi said that so far 90 bank accounts were identified and the police have found that transactions worth close to ₹178 crore were made in the case. Around ₹45 lakh was freezed, he said.

He said that the city police has succeeded in preventing property offences (house break-ins) during the Sankranti holiday season.

Giving the details, Mr. Shankhabrata Bagchi said that during the year 2021, as many as 12 H.Bs were reported in the city. In 2022, 2023 and 2024, as many as eight, nine and 12 HBs were reported in the city. During this Sankranti season, the city saw only three HBs, of which one case was already detected, he said.

He attributed the success to the increase in awareness programmes on crimes, increase in patrolling, beats, especially on the outskirts.