INDIA excerpts from conversations with some of india’s top bookies* On how they conduct business six MONTHS undercover SI India: Aur money transaction kaise hota hai? Bookie: Hawala. See, jaise maanlo. Teen log hain. Tinku ne **** [Player’s name re- moved] se baat ki. Aur ab usse Dubai mein **** ke account mein paise pahunchaane hain. Toh woh apne Dubai ke aadmi ko phone karke boldega ki woh **** ko paise de de. Woh Dubaiwala aadmi **** ke account mein paisa transfer kardega, which is obviously not in ****’s name, aur phir **** confirmationde dega ki usse paisa mil gaya ya nahin. On how a player busted a deal know if anyone else is involved at this SI India: OK. And you are sure about these level other than him. At least, no one here two, **** and ****? [Two players whose these are in Delhi. All the Pakistan matches which names have been removed.] were played in Abu Dhabi were known to Bookie: Haan. Inse meri khud baat hui hai. direct quotes, him. And [he would] pass on the infor- SI India: Okay. Kya baat hui thi? Ek baar mation to Sunil bhaiya. Aur spot-fixing ka bataaiye. concept naya nahin hain. Humme pehle se Bookie: Jo tape mere paas thi, usme toh ek unedited for hi pata tha. Three-four balls mein runs na- argument tha. hin aa rahe, phir suddenly, there were wide SI India: Jab woh shuru hota hai tape, toh balls, no balls. Spot-fixing is a major op- in a fix usme first voice kiski hai? grammar or portunity to win. SI India investigates the shadowy world of bookies Bookie: First voice humaari hai. Jab tak hum kuch bolte nahin, woh saamne se kuch nahin tone and in bolta. On maintaining control ON TAPE: Bookies claim 40 billion was shuffled from Pakistan to SI India: Aap mein se kiski hai? Sunilji ki? Bookie: Jaise 4 bande aa gaye. 25 paise ki ` Bookie: Nahin, Tinku ki. Do tapes hain. the original lag gayi... 25-25-25-25... toh woh darte na- Tinku ne kaha ki... [pauses] hin hain... paanch-waanch lakh rupaiye ke India during the World Cup; the amount was split among 24 bookies SI-India: 1st tape mein Tinku ne kaha ki... language of the liye. Toh woh cutting karte hain. Cutting Bookie: Theek hai sab kuch. Hum paise bhi- karte. Toh match one-sided hone lagte. jwa dete hain. Baaki saari baat pehle decide Toh matches palatne lag gaye. Ab woh dar ON TAPE: Everyone knows everyone: Links between bookies, property ho chuki thi, phir jab usne commitment poo- exchanges. gaye, chhote-chhote bookie ud gaye hain, un ra nahin kiya, toh doosri baar unhone mujhe matches mein... kyun? Maal aage chadaate kaha ki phone laga aur pooch. gadbad kar diya. Usse pata chal gaya tha toh nahin thhey, bade bookie ko, khud hi dabba Maine kaha, “Sir kya hua? Ye gadbad usne dressing room mein kaha ki aisa kuch karte thhey, dabbe mein match palat gaye, dealers, politicians, cricket officials, police, players and player agents kaise ho gayi? Hum toh mar gaye!’ karne ki koshish nahin karein or isiliye hum haar gaye woh. SI India: Direct **** [Player’s name] ko paise wapas kar rahe hain’. SI India: Oh. phone kiya? Bookie: Ye Titu Bansal karaate hain ye kaam. On tape: Bookies claim Pakistan rejects their Bookie: Haan. Toh woh bola, ‘Behen ke... Titu Bansal, Dr. Saab, Bobby Jailroad... Ye phone rakh.’ On who Delhi’s top guns are bade bookie hain. In pe punter nahin khel- SI India: Phir? SI India: And who else is involved? te... in pe bookiyon ki cutting jaati hain. In advances outright but allege some others are more approachable Bookie: Phir agle din uske kisi acquaintance Bookie: Bookies? pe bookiyon ki cutting jaati hai, jo hummare ka phone aaya ki aise-aise ho gaya tha. ‘*** SI India: Yes. pe dhanda aa raha hain, hum aage kaat ra- [Reference to a Board official removed] ne Bookie: Tinku. I told you about him. I don’t hein hain, beech mein se faida leke. BY HEENA ZUNI PANDIT Illustrations by Priyanka kaur oberoi

*SI India taped more than 400 minutes of conversation with various people involved in the bookmaking world. In some cases, the conversations were actually part of police operations, in others SI India arranged meetings with known bookies through players and the police. There are also separate conversations with players, officials and politicians. These tapes are authentic but are of course open to scrutiny. It would be ideal if the claims made on tape were to be investigated by anti-corruption and security agencies. Till official charges are made, we cannot publicly identify all of the people named on tape. P. 45 P. 46 P. 49 Power Brokers Need of the Hour Zero Degrees of Separation MAY 2011 | Sports Illust r at eD | 43 SPECIAL REPORT I cricket in a fix

Transcript of a conversation recorded on March 31, the day after India beat Pakistan in the World Cup semifinal: Voice: Arre uss match ka pata chala aapko? power brokers SI-India: Kis match ka? These are the men who make hay come rain or shine Voice: India–Pakistan ka. Humein toh ek message aaya tha, Bihar ke ek politician ka. Dr. Saab: Shadowy figure, Dr. Saab is Kaha, ‘Sir, yahi sahi time hai paise lagaane allegedly an alias for a Delhi-based busi- ka. Ab nahin lagaayenge to kab lagaayenge? nessman with large interests in the steel `200 crore pahuncha diya hai’. industry. He lives in east Delhi, was re- SI-India: Achcha. Kaunsa politician tha? portedly handling all the cuts from other Voice: Ek hai, Bihar mein. bookies during the World Cup. He doesn’t Voice 2: Apna 2-3 lakh kamaliya, chhutthi... take bets like a regular bookmaker, but Humme kya matlab kaun kya karta hai? takes some special customers, those re- portedly willing to fork out over `50 lakh. he original voice, in this case, was that of a politician from a national party, Tinku Mandi: One of the NCR’s biggest bookies for a few years who has a residence in Delhi and a now, Mandi is a Noida resident. Another bookie claims Mandi has scrapyard business in Mumbai. He direct accesss to certain international players. He is involved in the was part of a group of six men—the real estate business and also trades in gold and silver. rest are in the property business— discussingT how much money they had made Titu Bansal: A “pure bookie” with no involvement in any other off the World Cup game. industry, Bansal reportedly operates his thriving bookmaker The meeting was casual, a get-together business out of East Delhi. He also controls a gang of bookies, over drinks in an office in New Delhi’s including Sonu, the younger brother of Tinku Mandi. posh East of Kailash, celebrating the fact that each had made between `2-3lakh, a Bobby Jailroad: Bobby works in close association with Tinku relatively small sum in the big, bad world Mandi on contacting players to spot fix. Reportedly a resident of illegal betting, but one, they believed, of Malcha Marg near Dhaula Kuan in New Delhi, he is believed was worth it as it was as “guaranteed” as to earn his share (which is around `2.5 lakh per match) only by the result of the India–Pakistan game. “settling” for other bookies. In a separate get-together, the prop- erty dealers casually discussed how four Sunilji: One of the big players, a resident of Jagriti Enclave, Sunilji Pakistan players had allegedly been paid is a property dealer who also trades in metals. He was reportedly to under-perform in the game. They also introduced to the bookie business by Mandi to offset losses from spoke of how Pakistan skipper Shahid Af- trading in gold and silver and has several players on speed dial. ridi couldn’t be approached: “Woh nahi march 31, 7pm Property dealers, aata pakad mein [He doesn’t take the politicians meet Baburam aka Sunil: Baburam operates out of Jaipur and report- bait]”, one remarked, implying that Afridi, in East of Kailash, edly controlled matters in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League. at least, was clean. discuss profits made While other bookies have been questioned by cops, bookie circles on bets placed on the Over the last six months, SI India has Betting in claim there’s never been a whiff of a scandal about him. India-Pakistan World met, individually and collectively and on Cup semifinal. several occasions, with over half a dozen india should be known bookies, players, agents and of- odds and place bets on games. in itself, especially given that it is a well someone who doesn’t maintain books, et business in South Asia, estimated at a ficials, and watched from the sidelines SI India has taped many of these con- known and undisputed fact that most of but generally makes money only from the whopping `20-30 billion, is controlled by as investigative officers across agencies legalised. this versations with bookies and police of- the money in cricket, generated legally or “cuts” he takes from other bookies. He is India’s Public Enemy No. 1. conducted undercover operations into ficers and while the tapes are authentic, illegally, comes from India. Here’s why it’s someone with direct or indirect access to a organised betting syndicates and worked some of the contents of these tapes are all so disturbing. player’s agent and, in rare cases, to a player Easy access on tip-offs with regard to spot-fixing in will help curb yet to be verified—it is still an ongoing himself. This kingpin, in turn, according What is worse, in many ways, is that lo- cricket matches before and during the operation—which is why names have not A parallel world to the police, gives a cut of his earnings to cal bookies and middlemen either claim March-April World Cup. unnatural money been printed. We have informally offered Bookies, big or small, all know or know the underworld. to know players personally or know their SI India has also tapped into the il- officials of both the International Cricket of each other. They maintain meticulous Authorities also believe that some part agents very well. In one conversation, legal world of betting through “dabba” Council (ICC) and the Board of Control computerised records of their dealings. The of that money goes back to criminal mas- a top Delhi bookie’s sidekick informed phones—basic cell phones with modified transactions. for Cricket in India (BCCI) access to these bookmakers, though they are outlaws, have termind Dawood Ibrahim or to organi- us that he had called up a senior player SIMs. You can receive no incoming calls recordings to take this further as they a more or less strict, organised hierarchy sations controlled by the D-company. In during a T20 international because of a on these cell phones and only use them — rahul mehra, please. That is their call. All the details we in their own world. A small-time bookie or fact, while the Dawood bogey has been `5 crore spot-fixing deal that had fallen to dial a single pre-programmed number have here are based on sources in security a group of bookies invariably has to give raised on many occasions for many differ- through. that takes you straight into a bookie net- agencies or police reports. a cut to a bigger local bookie referred to ent things, there is little debate amongst While we were not privy to him calling work from where you can listen to the sports lawyer What we have verified, though, is scary as a “kingpin”. The kingpin is normally agencies that the illegal betting-on-crick- up the player in question, the player’s per-

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oct. 2010, 2.15pm oct. 2010, 1pm He drives his car while A top bookie’s man calls explaining betting, fixing SI India to an East Delhi and how players come in. metro station.

oct. 2010, 2pm He refuses to step out of his car while sharing oct. 2010, 2.30pm “top secret” info. He speaks of the hawala effect and a deal with a player that fell through.

nov. 12, 2010, 12.26am We receive the first of several intriguing texts relating to betting.

sonal numbers he had were correct and Another said he had ticked off a top some of the details and team information India player’s agent, telling him to “stay the NEED OF he had were startling. This man, inciden- theY CAN BE away” from him when the agent came to bookie lingo: the jargons tally, is not remotely connected to cricket invite him for an event in South Africa. The betting dictionary is full of taut and tongue-in-cheek terms THE HOUR in any obvious way—he is not a player, a “I’d heard all kinds of stories about this sports agent, a sponsor, an official, a me- CHARGED ONLY agent, about how he fixes and arranges Bet-khana: A fancy bet pro- programmed number that Satta: Betting On the Indian board and the diaperson, a PR rep, a relative or a friend things, and while I don’t have solid proof vided by the big bookie to takes you straight into bookie Satori: Punters international body’s part of a player or even a fan. To him, as he UNDER the about his activities, I wasn’t going to be the small punters working network from where you can Sattebaz: Regular punters says, it’s business. seen in his company,” the official said. under him for entertainment listen to the odds and place and bookies l Licence and regulate player agents, A former India player, now the coach of or sometimes as an incentive bets on games. Settling: The word is used after running background checks on e is actually in the real estate busi- GAMBLING ACT, a Ranji team, said he had told his players for good business. Favourite: Any team which is for the process of collecting each. ness, as are many of the bookmak- that when they were in Delhi, they were to Bhao: Betting rates favorite to win money from various bookies l Have undercover anti-corruption ers to whom we spoke. Police au- WHICH IS NOT a absolutely stay away from a statemate, an Book: The place where a re- Hawala: Money transfer sys- a day after the match. officials pose as interested parties and H thorities believe that many of those India player. Why? He reportedly mixes cord of all bets is maintained tem involving big amounts. Spread betting: In spread see if players are vulnerable or willing. involved in the darker side of cricket call socially with a Delhi businessman who Colour: A match is said to Ind: India betting, one needs to be in l Have a permanent manager and themselves “property dealers” because deterrent. SO IT’S owns a store in the upscale Khan Market be “colour hai” if the book- Khaya: Losing the bet the know and therefore pre- security manager, or a member of that is a business in which movements area. “He [the businessman] has a reputa- ies sense that the result has Line: Phone lines where bet- dict who will be the standout such a team, travel with the team at of cash can be easily manipulated and tion for being a middleman and a bookie. been fixed. ting rates are constantly up- performer, which bowler will all times. explained—at least for now, till the gov- a WASTE of time While the older players know better than Choti Paari: A session of five dated. end up with the best econo- l Sensitise players to the dangers of ernment implements its plan to seriously to mix with him, I didn’t want any of the overs. Lambi paari: Session of 10 my rate, which batsman will people seeking information from early audit all property transactions. — AN officer younger players to go anywhere near Cutting: The share of the to- overs. score the higest run, etc. on—under-15 onwards. Separately, a top BCCI official told him,” the coach said. tal amount of money placed Liya: Winning Spot betting: In spot betting SI India that the same player (who the Delhi players informally told SI India at a book run by a smaller Matka: Matka is the term one gambles on the ball-by- On the government’s part bookie claimed to have spoken to) was also INVESTIGATIng fixing they were “aware” that the businessman player who works under a big used in Mumbai for ‘satta’ ball score. l Legalise gambling, a major portion warned that he was being “watched care- concerned had a “shady reputation”. Offi- bookie. (betting). Session: A session is where of the problem disappears. fully” during the ’s characters based in the Middle East, but cials from the Delhi Police admit they have Dabba: Basic cell phones Odd betting: The oldest form one bets on how many runs l Make spot-fixing, passing on second season in South Africa. not seen in India, flew into South Africa been watching this businessman for some with modified SIM-cards. You and is for the newbies in the will be scored in a particular confidential information through Some BCCI officials were very con- and booked rooms in the players’ hotels, time now, but say they have no evidence can receive no incoming calls business. In odd betting, one session. illegal channels criminal offences cerned by the free access to players, na- both during last year’s Champions League that will stand in court to convict him. on these phones, and only has to predict the winner. It’s Tagada: Collecting money with stiff penalties under the law. tional and international, during that and the IPL’s second season,” an official “When we do, we will get him,” said an use them to dial a single pre- the simplest form of betting. due at various books. second season. “Several known shady told SI India. assistant commissioner of police (ACP).

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1 2 come Mobster The CBI and Dawood Ibrahim is the Intelligence considered the ultimate boss Bureau have claimed in their into my of the betting underworld in India, 2G scam chargesheet, that Shahid Pakistan and West Asia. Every small-time Balwa, who, along with fellow co-founder bookie reportedly gives a cut of his earnings to and Managing Director of DB Realty Vinod a bigger one (called a Kingpin) and the Kingpins, Goenka, is behind bars, received funds parlour in turn, give a share of their earnings to from Dawood and Chhota Shakeel, his The criminals owing allegiance to Dawood or right-hand man. BJP’s Links within links: While the his D-Company. Eknath Khadse, underworld, presented a file in the april 25, 2011, 4pm Balwa’s lawyers have 3 A Crime Branch officer India’s equivalent Maharashtra Assembly admits spot-fixing is A world where there contested the underworld of the Italian mafia, is a (obtained through an RTI rampant and that the 8 links and said there is no underworld is to blame. more nebulous body, there is application, a copy of which is are no strangers evidence of the same. The guilty get away little debate that it controls all While Dawood with SI India) showing that Union because there is no strict remains a shadowy law to implicate them. Anyone remotely acquainted with the world nefarious cricketing activities Minister Sharad Pawar flew to of south Asian cricket will tell you that it sur- that go on through the year. figure, security Pawar Dubai in the company of Balwa vives on the kind of networking that would The Underworld, in turn, pays sources believe admitted and Goenka on Feb. 8, 2010. BCCI Easy information before the India-West Indies World Cup make a lobbyist (corporate or not) proud. its dues to Dawood, who is he returned zero “hiring sources said other members of It’s also not unusual for team information match in Chennai (a day-nighter), they The superstars of this world are undoubt- believed to be based out of to control aircraft” the BCCI and ICC were also on that to be easily available to equally unusual hadn’t even finished breakfast when edly the cricketers, and like any other super- Pakistan and West Asia. betting DegreeS owned by flight, at Pawar’s invitation. quarters despite the penalties involved in they were told that bookies had already stars, they attract attention of every kind, in 2008. Balwa, said passing out confidential matter. declared that would not be the good, the bad and the downright crimi- of it was not On some of the recordings available playing the game. nal. For the most, these men are honest and Middlemen and bookies the only Pawar is head of the International There has been with us there are references to team in- wear the national colours with pride, know- have long been the bane of company he Cricket Council, of which the talk in the BCCI formation being available to a middle- ntil that moment, there had been no ing fully well the responsibilities that come Asian cricket. The illegal separation hired from. Anti-Corruption and Security man via a top player agent. There is also indication to the mediapersons— with donning the India blues (or whites). betting industry in the about screening Unit is an operating division a casual reference to a national selector cricket reporters all—accompanying The problem lies with the miniscule num- subcontinent is estimated the backgrounds (of the ICC Code of Conduct of player agents being at the receiving end of favours in the teams that there was anything ber who believe that this is the only time they at $20-30 billion and the ICC sources Commission). Interestingly, U and licensing them, exchange for bringing a certain player wrong with Gayle or that he would be can make the really big bucks before form or lack of any legal deter- told SI India that Y.P. Singh, the ACSU’s chief 4 but there’s nothing into the India team. skipping the match. A few hours later, the injury or age sees them permanently booted rents to fixing (there’s only Pawar was “unaware” of investigator-designate, was 7 concrete so far. According to the version of a group news was confirmed. Gayle did not play. out of the team. the inadequate Gambling Y.P. Singh’s joining the part of the CBI team that of journalists who met several hours Someone in the know had obviously al- When these players get together with Act) means its body. was probing the agents or managers of a similar mindset, or worth the risk. While The ICC is 2G scam. indicate they are open to under-the-table small-time cricket’s govern- suggestions, they become perfect tools for bookies play the odds, ing body and therefore has shady managers or businessmen who have bigger ones often live off fixing the ultimate jurisdiction over the activities of world cup betting rackets busted become part of their charmed inner circle. odds. They need access to players, directly all players, umpires, support staff and cricket The police in the Capital went into overdrive during the biggest event of the year How it works, according to bookies and se- or indirectly. Officials believe some officials. This group, incidentally, is the Raid on cases arrested cells seized laptops seized amount bet curity officials, is through verbal recommen- player agents play a big role most vulnerable in many ways dations and personal introductions at parties in their getting this because of its direct, Feb. 20 03 08 30 04 `2.78 crore and events. Once a player gets sucked into 6 access. on-field access. 5 March 11 01 05 38 02 `1.35 crore this trap, it’s nearly impossible to get out, March 2 01 03 12 01 `1.00 crore as those with ultimate control of the multi- March 8 02 05 13 02 `3.79 crore billion dollar illegal betting business, will go March 11 01 02 09 02 `1.00 crore to any lengths to protect their interests. March 25 04 11 55 03 `3.00 crore March 26 01 03 03 - `0.40 crore March 31 01 03 13 01 NA April 4 05 14 36 03 `1.82 crore ready passed on that information. other reward that could bring him or the certain players being “more approachable” Total 19 54 209 18 `15.14 crore It may be recalled that in May 2008, game of cricket into disrepute”. Samuels, All in the know and they also keep a strict watch on them. West Indies batsman Marlon Samuels was who has repeatedly denied involvement, had The Who’s Who of this shady world, inciden- “But there’s only so much you can do,” THE IPL... SO FAR suspended for two years by the West Indies allegedly been caught on tape by the Nagpur tally, are well known to security agencies. an ICC official told SI-India. “It’s not that Raid on cases arrested cells seized laptops seized amount bet Cricket Board disciplinary committee for police in February 2007 for giving match- Officials of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and we are unaware of the situation or the ru- April 21 01 02 04 - `3.5 crore breaching the ICC’s Code of Conduct. The related information to an Indian bookie Security Unit (ACSU) are also well aware of mours. We also get any number of tip-offs *source Delhi Police. *IPL data upto 26.4.2011 Source: Delhi Police. Data for Delhi and the National Capital Region through April 26, 2011 charge: He received “money, or benefit or during the West Indies vs. India ODI series. the rumours that frequently surface about and see which ones seem more serious.

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PCB POWER While the BCCI seems to believe that the facts of the matter if they ignore agents, they will go While the BCCI seems to believe that if they ignore agents, they will away, Pakistan has been proactive go away, Pakistan has been proactive in framing strict regulations

These government-approved regulations Who is a Bookie? are applicable to anyone wanting to act For the most, bookies are random individuals who have little, or just more than a little, as a player’s agent. Some of the more interest in the game. Their primary aim is to create a network of punters and, if they are interesting points are: big players, manipulate the game in the way that would maximise their profits. The big Registration bookie in the betting and bookmaking business is called the ‘Kingpin’. He doesn’t gener- A potential agent has to first fork out Pak ally accept bets but only takes a cut from the rest of the bookies. Rs. 10,000 for the PCB application form and then submit that with supporting How Kingpins Work documents and Pak Rs. 2 lakh. They are often well-connected people, who get in touch with players through mutual Scrutiny friends, acquaintances or business associates. They then party with them, sometimes The PCB will take about two weeks from travel with them, and stay in constant touch. In many cases they are ‘special friends’ with the date of application to scrutinise the one or more players; players who treat them as sounding boards or confidantes. application and the Director, Internation- Once they become close enough to the players to call them, talk to them anytime, al Cricket, could ask for additional anywhere in the world, they start making calls of different bets, and deciding the rates for information/documents, which have to the betting market. The level of interaction and influence depends on the person involved be submitted within a fortnight. and where he/she (though a bookie is normally male) wants to take the business. Background checks The PCB could also require the applicant Networking to get police clearance from the area or The network is vast. Punters are spread across the world, and bookies don’t ever use their country of residence; from the agent's real names. Sometimes, a punter will not even come in direct contact with a bookie. A home board and the Pakistan High Com- Kingpin typically has 20 to 25 people working under him, expanding the network, which mission there. Within four weeks, if the mainly consists of punters who bet at different levels. Bookies have a point spread application is successful, he is registered, (agreed on verbally, or in the form of chips or coupons), aimed at guaranteeing a profit. but only till Dec. 31 of that year. March 17, 5.30pm Like with a casino, the rule is that the house should always win. Suspension Source meets SI India in Paharganj, claims a top bookie rigs matches The registration of any agent can be with the help of an international umpire. Punters suspended and he and the cricketer(s) he They are like the small branches of a tree. They collect money from customers and do is representing will be notified. In such a dealings. In many cases, they bet themselves. There is no need for them to be present in situation, the cricketer(s) has to There’s so much access [to players] that travelling with players. person. Almost all deals are done over the phone. immediately sever all business relation- it’s difficult to control everything. There’s So while agents or managers are not ships with the agent. also the fact that unless you actually catch the disturbing allowed in or near the dressing room on Technology Criteria for being an agent someone in the act [of accepting or saying match days, they have free access to play- A signature tool is a big, safe, box—called a black box or big box—which can be seen He has to be of good character and he will accept money], we don’t have a leg part was the ers outside the stadia. wherever a big bookie is in operation. The box contains all the technological parapherna- reputation in the PCB’s opinion; have to stand on if it comes to taking action that It must be mentioned here that many, if lia of the bookmaking operation, including the mobile phones that are distributed to his no conviction involving dishonesty or will hold if challenged legally.” not most, of these managers have no back- agents. Laptops are used to keep a record of all dealings and allow access to the software deception or moral turpitude in Pakistan arrest of two ground in the business of sport or sports that keeps track of the records (popularly known as ‘bookies software’). or his country of residence; cannot be Access is everything administration and no training whatso- Every phone conversation goes on record, which becomes a tool in the hands of the bankrupt or subject to bankruptcy It’s not just about the players being vul- students and a TV ever—financial or otherwise—in handling bookies in case people refuse to pay their dues. The internet also aids the operation. proceedings; cannot, during the past 10 nerable though. Disturbingly, some of the sportsmen, forget those raking in the Betting websites can be checked for continuous updates on rates and odds. Rates are years, have been censured or disciplined conversations we have recorded have centred mega-bucks. changed as often as ball-by-ball scores. in Pakistan or his country of residence; around the alleged activities of an inter- cameraman with There was reportedly a suggestion from In addition to small/pirated software available in the market, Price Per Head (PPH) is had a professional licence revoked; and is national umpire, who, according to several within that the Indian board regulate and the most reliable, and widely used, programme. not an officer, employee or consultant of bookies, is a fast friend of the mysterious “Dr. register these agents but nothing concrete Mobile phones, software and other technology have made it very easy for bookies to the PCB, or any cricket body. Saab”, the man who reportedly controlled property dealers. has come to fruition. Meanwhile, bookies, operate with relative impunity. Accounts betting syndicates operating in and around middlemen and businessmen run rampant Agents cannot have a conflict of interest New Delhi during the World Cup. — Ashok Chand, in the world of cricket. What is PPH and “Back 'N' Lay PRO”? in any situation or have someone else The BCCI, which does not officially rec- Change is the need of the hour, as is ac- PPH and “Back ‘N’ Lay Pro” is software created for online casinos, sportsbooks and poker act on their behalf. They have to detail ognise player agents or managers because countability, ensured by both the Indian activities. A bookie can sign up to get this software enabled on their sites by paying a biannually to the PCB, a full list of the board officials believe they are easily ac- DCP, Crime Branch, cricket board and the Indian government. small fee. The software takes care of figures, moving lines and reports. The bookie can cricketers they represent and the spon- cessible to outsiders and put players at risk, Otherwise, we run the risk of a 2000-like access these services anywhere, any time. These services are cheap and legal. sors of those cricketers. also does not seem to have the power (or Delhi Police situation and a loss of faith, in the system, SOURCE: CRIME BRANCH, DELHI POLICE the inclination) to ban these agents from in the players and in the game itself. ±

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