Warangal: Police arrested bookie Gattam Veeramani Kumar, also known as Pandu, for illegal online cricket betting, and seized Rs 1.5 lakh in cash along with two mobiles at Padmakshi Colony.
The arrest follows recent police operations that led to the nabbing of three people linked to online cricket betting, including a Hyderabad-based betting agent, Chintapandu Krishna, and two Hanamkonda residents, players P. Omkar and P. Suresh. During interrogation, evidence surfaced linking the 28-year-old Kumar from Kakinada to the betting racket.
Kumar disclosed that in 2023, he met Yogesh Gupta (also known as Jogesh Gupta) from Hyderabad in Goa, who introduced him to an online cricket betting app. As part of the arrangement, Kumar was promised a 9 per cent share of profits and provided with login details, while also facilitating transactions through shared account numbers.
Investigations revealed that around Rs 5 crore was transacted through these accounts, with Rs 3 crore directed to various accounts associated with Gupta. Kumar himself received Rs 1 crore, some of which was reportedly used to purchase a plot and two wine shops in Kakinada.
Police continue their hunt for two key suspects in the case: Kitiri Ranjeet, a player from Hanamkonda, and Yogesh Gupta, the Hyderabad-based bookie.
