Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Aug 7: In a stringent crackdown against matka gambling over the past week, the Udupi district police have arrested five individuals, including a main bookie, across three separate cases.

On August 1, the Karkala town police arrested an individual near a shop by the public bus stand in Karkala. The accused was found collecting money from the public, promising a return of Rs 70 for every Rs 1 bet. The arrested, identified as Virendra Shetty (42) of Borkatte in Miyyar village, was found in possession of Rs 1,415 in cash, matka slips, and a mobile phone, all of which were seized. A case has been registered at the Karkala town police station.

In another incident on the same day, the Brahmavar police arrested an accused who was collecting money for matka gambling in a public place near a bar in Handadi village, also offering Rs 70 for Rs 1 on numbers between 00 and 99. The police apprehended Kushal Shetty (66) and seized Rs 2,395, along with a matka slip and a ballpoint pen. A case has been registered at the Brahmavar police station.

Additionally, on August 1, the Brahmavar police arrested Chandrashekar Shetty while he was collecting matka gambling funds in a public place in Chantaru village. During interrogation, he revealed that he handed over the collected money to the second accused, Rathnakar Shetty of Korgi village, who ran the gambling operation based on suggested lucky numbers. The police seized Rs 1,400 in cash, a matka slip, and a ballpoint pen from him. Both accused were arrested, and a case was registered at the Brahmavar police station.

Acting on the information provided by the accused in this case, the police also tracked down and arrested a matka bookie, identified as Leo Cornelio, a resident of Shivalli village in Udupi.