Tushar Arothe, the former India women’s cricket team coach and ex-Ranji Trophy player was arrested by the detection of crime branch (DCB) unit from his cafe late on Monday night for his connection with an IPL betting racket. His cafe is located in Alkapuri. However, police have arrested 19 people, including Tushar Arothe, Hemang Patel and Nischal Meheta- his two partners in the cafe. Moreover, police revealed that Hemang Patel was accepting bets on various mobile apps during the game between Delhi Capitals and Kings XI Punjab on Monday night.
“We had received a tip-off about the betting activities at the Cafe Stock Exchange in Alkapuri where a big screen was placed to relay IPL matches. We kept a watch there and conducted a raid on Monday night. Some persons sitting in a shed next to the cafe were involved in online betting on the IPL match,” said Jaydeepsinh Jadeja, DCP (crime).
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“We checked their mobile phones and found that 19 persons, including Hemang, were placing bets on three different mobile applications. Hemang, who is one of the partners in the cafe, had betting app in his mobile and he was accepting and placing bets on the IPL match. Arothe too was present at the spot,” Jadeja told TOI.
The cops seized all the phones and while checking, they found betting apps of all the 19 persons, including college students also. Later they were arrested. Tushar Arothe’s son, Rishi Arothe is also one of the partners in the cafe. But he wasn’t there when he raid was conducted, confirmed Jadeja. Rishi is also a cricketer and plays for Baroda.
“Our investigations revealed that Hemang is in the business of betting on cricket games. He used to accept and place bets worth lakhs and he was in touch with a man named Baba. We are now trying to track down Baba,” Jadeja said.
However, police have seized the phones and vehicles of the accused persons while they have been released on bail. But cops didn’t find any betting apps on the former coach’s phone.
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“I had reached at the cafe just 20 minutes before the cops came in. I am not at all involved in any kind of betting. The police checked my mobile phone and didn’t find any betting app in it,” Arothe said TOI.
“I don’t know why I was arrested. If some customers come in my cafe and bet on mobile apps, how would I know that? As far as Hemang is concerned, he is a partner in the cafe but he always sat with his friends. I have no idea that he was placing bets. I have not committed any illegal activity and I will fight it out for my honour,” Arothe added.
