Techie loses `45L on cricket betting

Police launches probe to nab bookies

A young software engineer from the city lost around `50 lakh to cricket bookies through online betting. His family members lodged a complaint with the Cyberabad police and preliminary investigation revealed that he bookies are located in Delhi.

During the first week of February, when the Balanagar police received a complaint about the bookies, it was suspected that there could be more victims. The case has been transferred to the specialized Economic Offences Wing at the headquarters for an indepth investigation.

The techie, who is in his early 20’s had been paying money online to the bookies. He was lured of betting money on runs scored on every ball, player’s individual performance and match-winning probability.

For about two years, the techie had been betting the money which was always sent through mobile e-wallet applications. In all, he lost about `50 lakh.

The family members of the techie, who noticed him becoming financially burdened, learned about the betting and warned him against it. They also tried to clear off the debts but finally approached the police.

Sources close to the Cyberabad police told Deccan Chronicle, “The investigators identified that the bookies have been changing their mobile numbers for every match and the techie is said to have received a new link for a new match to deposit the money.”