Bhubaneswar, June 24: In a major breakthrough against illegal betting activities, Puri Police have arrested the alleged kingpin of a large-scale IPL betting syndicate that was reportedly operating across Odisha and handling transactions worth crores of rupees.
The accused, identified as Krishna Prasad Tripathy alias “Boss” (32), a resident of Berhampur, is believed to have been running a sophisticated betting network while maintaining a low public profile. According to police sources, Tripathy allegedly concealed his identity and operated the racket through a well-organized system. He reportedly owned a hotel named “Namaste” in Berhampur and is suspected of developing customized software to facilitate betting operations.
Investigators said the accused used the online platform “Sky Exchange” to conduct IPL betting and allegedly earned substantial profits through illegal gambling activities. Following his arrest, police conducted searches at his residence and recovered approximately ₹10 lakh in cash. An additional ₹8 lakh in his Axis Bank account was frozen and seized. Authorities are now examining his other bank accounts, ATM transactions, movable and immovable assets, and financial dealings.
The arrest is linked to an earlier police raid conducted on April 29 at Masani Chandi Square in Puri, where four persons were caught allegedly placing bets during IPL matches. Police seized ₹3.04 lakh in cash and six mobile phones from the spot. A subsequent raid at the residence of one of the accused led to the recovery of another ₹22.31 lakh.
In total, police have so far seized and frozen assets worth more than ₹31.81 lakh in connection with the case. Investigators suspect the betting network had been operating for nearly two years.
Officials said the arrest of the alleged mastermind has dealt a major blow to the illegal betting syndicate, while further investigations are underway to identify additional members and financial links associated with the racket.
About the Author
