Official sources said on Monday that five days before the International Cricket Council World Cup, police are neatly observing bookies’ activities, but most of the bookies have moved to bases outside the town.
Devendra Fadnavis, the Maharashtra Chief Minister has ordered police to discover that there were no gambling related issues between bookies or local punters. On their part, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the police crime branch are observing all such actions, both at the local police station levels and at the headquarters. Officials are keeping there eyes on some known bookies and their associates, though most of the bookies have shifted to secret locations outside Mumbai, and are using technological aids.
The International Cricket Council World Cup final were held in 2011 in Mumbai when India defeated Sri Lanka to clinch the cup.
This time, the International Cricket Council World Cup is starting from 14th February, hosted by Australia and New Zealand with the first game between arch-rivals India and Pakistan scheduled 15th February.
India-Pakistan high voltage match is generating huge interest and patriotic passion, along with frantic gambling actions, while semi-finals and other games in which India qualifies also charm bets worth billions of rupees.
An official who did not wish to be identified was quoted saying: “Two years ago, there was a massive crackdown on bookies, hawala operators, middlemen and celebrities involved in betting rackets in the 2011 ICC World Cup. Police managed to deal a body blow to the bookies’ operations.”
That operation revealed the part of cricket officials, team managers, players, middlemen, insiders, and celebrities, not to mention the mafia, and resulted in reasonable clean of the system.