Police crackdown on IPL betting in NTR district: Commissioner

Vijayawada: With the ongoing IPL season, NTR District Police Commissioner SV Rajasekhar Babu has issued a stern warning against illegal cricket betting and announced the formation of a Special Task Force to curb such activities across the district.

In a press release issued here on Sunday, he said both online and offline betting are misleading youth and pushing many into financial distress and mental stress, affecting not only individuals but also their families. To tackle the issue, a dedicated task force has been constituted under the supervision of Cyber Crime DCP Krishna Prasanna, along with Taskforce ACP B Bhanu Prakash Reddy, Traffic ACPs Pawan Kumar and Sri Vedha and South Zone ACP Dr Manasa.

The police have launched a high-tech surveillance system to crack down on betting networks. Cyber teams are closely monitoring online betting apps, websites, and even dark web activities. Suspicious financial transactions in ball-to-ball betting platforms are being tracked and analysed.

Authorities are also keeping a close watch on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to identify and act against betting promotions. In addition, CCTV footage analysis and ground-level intelligence are being used to detect illegal betting hotspots. The Commissioner warned that those involved in betting—whether participating, organising, or promoting—will face strict legal action under the Andhra Pradesh Gaming Act, including criminal cases, arrests, bank account freezing, and seizure of digital devices.

He urged parents to monitor their children and advised youth to stay away from such illegal activities. Citizens are encouraged to report betting activities by dialing 100 or 112, assuring that informants’ identities will be keptconfidential.