MP Police arrest accused for online IPL betting

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Indore, May 5 (IANS) The Crime Branch of Indore Police in Madhya Pradesh has arrested an accused for allegedly running an illegal online betting racket during the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket match, police said on Monday.

An official said that the arrest came following a raid conducted in a residential colony located in Sector E in the city, and caught the betting operator red-handed.

He identified the accused person as Abhay Sharma (27), a resident of Indore.

The official said that during the raid, police recovered several mobile phones and three laptops from Sharma’s flat.

“During interrogation, Sharma confessed that he had been running an illegal betting racket from his rented flat for the past years,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Indore Crime Branch Police said that the accused person used the website to place and manage bets through personal login credentials.

“Sharma had developed a well-organised system to facilitate online betting through smartphones and laptops,” said the Crime Branch.

The official said that following the arrest, police lodged an FIR against Sharma and booked him under sections 3 and 4 of the Gambling Act, as well as other relevant charges under the IT Act.

He said that police suspected that some more persons were involved in the betting racket, and a search was initiated.

“The accused person has been taken into custody for further investigation, as some more people (his associates) are suspected to be involved in the case,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch’s Technical Department is examining the laptop, smartphones and other electronic devices recovered from Sharma’s possession.

Notably, this is the second online betting racket which has been busted in Indore in the past two weeks.

Earlier on April 27, Indore Crime Branch Police had arrested a man in connection with online betting on the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 final match between India and New Zealand.

–IANS

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Bihar: Poster war erupts between Cong & BJP ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s visit

Patna, Jan 17 (IANS) As Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi prepares to visit Patna on Saturday, a fierce poster war has erupted between Congress and BJP.

Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to attend the “Constitution Security Conference” and participate in a worker dialogue program during his visit and Congress leaders have flooded the city with posters to welcome him.

The Congress posters highlight the significance of Rahul Gandhi’s visit, portraying it as a moment of dignity and solidarity.

The party has made efforts to showcase its support and enthusiasm by placing welcoming banners at key locations throughout Patna. However, BJP leaders have countered with a series of sarcastic posters targeting Rahul Gandhi and his past remarks.

One such poster quotes Rahul Gandhi as allegedly saying that his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, played a role in defeating Bhimrao Ambedkar in an election. The BJP has framed the statement as a “reminder to the countrymen” about Congress’s history.

Another set of posters highlights controversial statements attributed to Rahul Gandhi, such as “Hindus are violent.” In response, the BJP’s posters claim, “I thought of reminding the Hindu brothers of Bihar.”

A further example references Rahul Gandhi allegedly commenting on the Emergency imposed by his grandmother Indira Gandhi, saying, “Congress does not believe in the Constitution, that is why his Dadi imposed Emergency.”

BJP leader Shailesh Mahajan has taken sharp aim at Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of disrespecting the Constitution and Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Mahajan alleged that Congress leaders are overly eager to project Gandhi as a Prime Ministerial candidate despite what he perceives as a lack of merit.

“Rahul Gandhi neither believes in the Constitution, Bhimrao Ambedkar, nor does he respect anyone. Congress leaders are desperate to make him the Prime Minister, but what ability does he have? His only qualification is that he is the grandson of a Prime Minister, the son of a Prime Minister, and the great-grandson of another Prime Minister,” Mahajan said.

On Thursday, the Municipal Corporation intervened, removing many posters as part of a city-wide cleanliness drive. Most of the removed posters were from Congress, sparking criticism from party members.

However, on Friday, Congress replenished its posters, further intensifying the visual clash, while BJP continued to counter with new displays.

–IANS

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Odisha Cabinet approves several key proposals; pension for elderly, disabled hiked

Bhubaneswar, Jan 4 (IANS) The Odisha Cabinet on Friday approved nine key proposals including the hike in pension amount for the Persons with Disabilities and elderly persons of 80 years of age or above.

The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi here on Friday.

“State Cabinet have approved the proposal to enhance the pension amount of the eligible pensioners aged 80 years and above or PwDs having disability percentage of 80 per cent and above under both Madhu Babu Pension Yojana and National Social Assistance Programme to Rs 3,500 per month with effect from January 2025,” a press note issued by the state government read.

In another significant decision, the state Cabinet on Friday gave its nod to the proposal allowing the state government to stand as guarantee for the new loans to be availed by the Odisha State Civil Supplies Corporation (OSCSC) Ltd.

It is pertinent here to mention that OSCSC, the Implementing Agency (IA) of Paddy Procurement operations and Public Distribution System (PDS) on behalf of the Odisha government, makes the payment of MSP to the farmers within 24 to 48 hours of the purchase of paddy.

The OSCSC Ltd also makes the payment to millers to get the Custom Milled Rice (CMR) out of the procured paddy.

The OSCSC Ltd. incurs all these expenditures by borrowing loans from banks and repays after release of subsidy from the Government of India.

“Considering the public interest works of paddy procurement operations and Public Distribution System works are being done by the OSCSC Ltd. on behalf of the Odisha Government, the Cabinet has approved the Provision of Government Guarantee for the new bank loans to be taken by the OSCSC Ltd,” added the press statement.

As per the press brief, the Government Guarantee of Rs 17,500 crore is provided for the new loans to be taken by the OSCSC Ltd. for a period of five years.

The Odisha Cabinet in its meeting also approved a proposal to provide additional subsidies for the solar rooftop systems under the Pradhan Mantri Suryaghar: Muft Bijli Yojana (free electricity scheme) (PMSG: MBY) in the state.

The state government has decided to provide an additional subsidy of Rs 25,000 per Kilowatt up to two kilowatts and an additional Rs 10,000 for third kilowatt under the PM-Surya Ghar scheme.

The Union government is providing a subsidy of 60 per cent of the solar unit cost for systems up to 2kW capacity and 40 per cent of additional system cost for systems between 2 to 3kW capacity under the PM-Surya Ghar scheme.

This apart, the Odisha Cabinet also approved several other key proposals of different departments during the meeting held on Friday.

–IANS

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No Cabinet expansion for now, hints Telangana CM

Hyderabad, Feb 7 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday hinted that there will be no expansion of his Cabinet for now.

The Chief Minister, who was in Delhi to meet the Congress party’s central leaders, told media persons in an informal chat that the leadership would decide who should be included in the Cabinet. He made it clear that he was not proposing any names to the leadership.

Revanth Reddy, who earlier met AICC General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, said the party has reached to conclusion on reconstituting Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) executive. He hoped that an announcement would be made in a day or two.

Replying to a query, he said he did not seek the appointment by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He remarked that if those who do not know his relationship with Rahul Gandhi say something, this would have no impact on him.

Revanth Reddy said he would act in accordance with the sentiments of the party and leaders. He made it clear that there would be no personal decision.

“I will do the work assigned to me by the party. I know only to continue my work. There is no need to respond to every criticism,” he said.

Venugopal had separate meetings with Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud and Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy.

AICC observer Deepa Dasmunshi is also accompanying the Chief Minister and other leaders.

Their visit is reported to be to invite AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for two public meetings planned in Telangana on the successful conduct of caste census and categorisation of Scheduled Castes as per the Supreme Court order.

However, speculations of discontent among a section of party MLAs have added significance to the leaders’ visit.

Before leaving for Delhi, the leaders had attended the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, where they called for unity and coordination between MLAs and ministers.

Meanwhile, Revanth Reddy also made it clear that the state government will act as per law in the cases against opposition leaders. He said there was no plan to immediately arrest and send them to jail.

He asserted that his government is working for a permanent solution to the problems. The CM claimed that the caste survey was conducted after taking all aspects into consideration. He believes that the caste survey permanently resolved the issue of Muslim reservation.

The Chief Minister said the caste survey revealed that the population of Backward Classes has gone up by 5.5 per cent.

–IANS

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