By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Oct. 14: With the start of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a professional Twenty20 cricket league organised by India, in the United Arab Emirates since mid-September, illegal betting business has soared in Nepal.
Law enforcement agencies have been arresting many individuals over the years during the time of the IPL for illegal betting.
The Metropolitan Police Beat, Kalimati recently arrested seven individuals involved in running an illegal sports betting racket from Kathmandu with technical support from India; around a dozen others have been arrested during the recent edition of IPL across the country.
Police from Kalimati had arrested three Indian nationals – Kuldeep Sharan, Sanjeev Sharan and Ajay Gautam – and four Nepali nationals – Pradip Ghimire, Uttam Sapkota, Anil Kumar Bamshal and Nabin Jain. Jain was arrested on Monday while the other six were arrested on Sunday from Hotel Konark Inn at Kamalpokhari.
The officers had also confiscated Rs. 185,120 from the arrested individuals along with two two-wheelers and some mobile phones.
“The individuals here used to provide username and password for aspiring betters and professional bettors in Nepal who can then perform betting through a confidential website. The transactions used to be conducted from India,” said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Apil Raj Bohora, chief of Kalimati Police.
“The technical support from India has obstructed the arrest and identification of major kingpins but we are investigating it. The support from across the border has been an issue of concern needed to be addressed,” said DSP Bohora.
The Clause 125 of the Criminal Code, 2074, states betting or any kind of gambling as illegal and anyone found guilty for the first time is liable to face a jail sentence of up to three months and a fine up to Rs. 30,000.
However, an individual arrested twice under the same charge will face one year jail sentence and a fine of up to Rs. 50,000. Further arrests of same individual on similar charges will result in punishment of extra three months and Rs. 10,000 fine in addition to the previous sentence.
Meanwhile, the arrest of seven individuals involved in illegal betting at IPL is not the only one by Nepal Police recently; the arrests have also been made outside the Valley.
Kailali District Police Office arrested 37-year-old Sanjeev Gupta, proprietor at Pritat Trading and Suppliers in Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City, on October 4. Gupta was organizing betting over runs scored, wickets, fours and sixes, and win or loss in the ongoing matches of IPL.
Similarly, Morang District Police Office arrested three individuals – Satyajeet Sah aka Munna, Baijanath Sah and Jagadish Sah – involved in betting at IPL matches on September 29.
According to police, the illegal betting takes place throughout the year over different sports events besides IPL.
In June last year, the Metropolitan Crime Division had arrested three men – Bajra Prakash Lama, Bidhyut Prakash Lama and Umesh Karki – from Kathmandu.
The trio was arrested while ICC World Cup matches were being played; later, during investigation, police found that they had conducted similar betting at the then recently concluded IPL and UEFA Champions League matches as well.
Nepal Police have requested public to not place betting illegally but rather inform the authorities if they have information related to it. The departments of Nepal Police have been investigating and arresting several individuals involved in such business over many years.