NEW DELHI – The anti-extortion cell of the Indian Crime Branch on Tuesdayarrested Sonu Yogendra Jalan, alias Sonu Malad, one of the country’sleading cricket bookies. He was arrested in connection with a bettingracket that was busted in Dombivali on May 16.
Jalan was arrested from Kalyan on Tuesday evening by the anti-extortioncell for providing software to the five bookies who were arrested in theDombivali case.
“His software called ‘Bet and Take’ is quite famous among bookies and isused by them in India and internationally as well,” said police inspectorRajkumar Kotmire, of the Thane anti-extortion cell. “His arrest is big, asit will help us unearth the national and international network of bookies,”he added.
On May 16, four bookies – Gautam Savla, 43, Nitin Punjani, 28, NikhilSampat, 53 and Khushal Khimji, 41 were arrested by the anti-extortion cellduring a raid in a shop at Shanti Sadan, Dombivli east. They were caughtbetting online as well as on their mobile phone during the Indian PremierLeague match between Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab at Wankhedestadium. This was followed by the arrest of one more bookie Vrajesh Joshi,27
Sonu Jalan who stays at Kandivli has a monthly turnover of above Rs 500crore and the cops suspect that during this year’s IPL it might havecrossed Rs 1000 crore. He was last arrested in 2012 by the Mumbai policefor betting on the IPL match at that time. He also told the cops duringinvestigation that he paid Rs 10 crore to a Sri Lankan player to fix amatch.
He has clients as well as punters in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabiaand South Africa. “We will produce him in Thane court tomorrow for furthercustody,” he adds.
Earlier this week, the International Cricket Council (ICC) responded to adocumentary by TV channel Al Jazeera alleging pitch doctoring and matchfixing in three Test matches. The ICC’s anti-corruption unit said that itis taking the allegations extremely seriously and an investigation isunderway.
“The ICC has now had the opportunity to view the documentary intocorruption in cricket and as we have previously stated, we are taking thecontents of the programme and the allegations it has made extremelyseriously. A full investigation led by the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit,working with full cooperation from all Member countries identified in theprogramme, is now underway to examine each claim made,” Alex Marshall, ICCgeneral manager, anti-corruption unit said.