Kolkata police arrested three men on Sunday for running a betting ring during the India‑South Africa test at Eden Gardens. The suspects are Altaf Khan, Ankush Raj and Patel Pinkal Kumar, who come from Maharashtra, Bihar and Gujarat, respectively.
The match, which finished on Sunday afternoon after three days of play, was the second test match of the series. Police say the men were using their smartphones to place illegal bets from the F1 block of the stadium gallery. They reportedly operated several betting apps such as BR365, R777 and 1xbook.
According to authorities, the crackdown began after confidential tips alerted the Kolkata Police’s anti‑rowdy squad and the Intelligence Department. Officers quietly raided the F1 block on Saturday, found the three men, seized their mobile phones and caught evidence of suspicious transactions.
After the initial questioning, the police filed an FIR at the Maidan Police Station. Officials say the trio had been moving from city to city during major cricket matches to run the betting network. While three arrests have been made, police suspect there may be more people involved.
This case highlights the challenges of enforcing betting laws during high‑profile sports events. It also brings renewed attention to illegal betting practices in India’s cricket‑crowded stadiums.
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