Bookies arrested in Bangalore ahead of India match

Bangalore : Three bookies were arrested on Saturday from here ahead of the India-England cricket match of the ICC World Cup.

A special team of Bangalore Crime Branch arrested the three youths, all in their late twenties, reports said.

Reports said Rs 2 crore was recovered from them along with 25 mobile phone sets, several SIM cards, laptops and two revolvers.

While rains in Bangalore threatens the match, that was shifted here from Eden Gardens after the ICC inspection team expressed unhappiness with the preparations in Kolkata, the India-England match has sent the betting rackets on a tizzy.

Sports betting and gambling is in full swing over the ongoing cricket World Cup as youngsters and sports enthusiasts in the country are not letting go off a single moment to make some easy money, according to a just concluded clandestine study carried out by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The survey carried out in seven major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahemdabad under the aegis of ASSOCHAM Social Development Foundation (ASDF) found that youngsters including school students and college going youth are wagering their monthly allowances on cricket match betting amongst friends.