Pune: Pune Police' Crime Branch on Thursday arrested two men in connection with a cricket betting racket. The court has remanded the accused to police custody till February 16.
The accused are identified as Gaurav Manoj Ahuja (Sathe Colony, Shukrawar Peth) and Ajay Anil Shinde (Khadak Police Colony).
During the police investigation, it was revealed that the betting racket is running in the city from IPL season (Indian Premier League) last year. It was also found that losers in the betting being extorted for money.
HOW RACKET WAS BUSTED
A 22-year-old Umesh Mulchandani had met Gaurav Ahuja once. Meanwhile, during the IPL cricket matches after the lockdown, Gaurav asked the him to let him know that if anybody is interested in IPL betting. Accordingly, the Umesh asked his friend Rajat Grover to meet Gaurav. Soon after the meet, Rajat started betting for cricket matches however he lost all money while betting.
Gaurav when demanded Rs 2.5 lakh from Rajat, he fled from Pune. Gaurav, meanwhile, asked the Umesh to pay the money as he knew Rajat and had lost Rs 2.5 lakh in betting.
On February 9, when Umesh along with his friend when went out for a dinner, Gaurav along with Ajay Shinde who is already a history-sheeter reached the restaurant and threatened him that if they don't get the money, they will kill him and his family. Though Umesh was not part of this syndicate, he was threatened by the duo.
Umesh soon rushed to Vimantal Police Station to lodge the case against the duo. A team led by Senior Police Inspector Rajneesh Nirmal arrested Ahuja and Ajay Shinde while investigating the case.
Meanwhile, Ajay Shinde happens to be the son of a policeman and yet known as a notorious criminial.
The police have booked the duo under sections 387 and 506 of the IPC (Indian Penal Code) and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act.
