07 October,2011 08:24 AM IST | | A Correspondent
Cops have intensified the hunt for top bookie who allegedly took bets in CLT20, after two of his associates are nabbed
The property cell of Mumbai crime branch is pursuing a topnotch bookie, Jayanti Shah alias Jayanti Malad, after two of his acquaintances were caught red-handed while accepting bets in a flat at Shastri Nagar, Andheri in the on-going Champions League T20 cricket matches.
"Jayanti has been absconding since the arrest of his two associates. We have intensified our search for him," said a crime branch officer from the property cell on condition of anonymity.
Hideout raided
On October 3, officials of the property cell acted on a tip-off that a group of Indore-based bookies are operating from a rented flat in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri.
Based on the information received, senior police inspector Arun Chavan formed a team that included police inspector Shailesh Pasalkar, assistant police inspectors, Nandkumar Gopale and Dinkar Bhonsale.
The team raided the premises and arrested two bookies Hemant Gala (45), and Amitabh Patani (35). Police also confiscated Rs 2.5 lakh, laptops, mobile phones and recorders from the two.
Interrogation
Meanwhile, interrogation of the two accused revealed that they were part of larger syndicate run by Jayanti, a resident of Raheja chambers in Malad.
The accused also revealed that they have been taking bets from the punters in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra in the on-going CLT20 matches. The duo also confessed that they have been constantly changing their hideouts, to avoid the arrests.
"The accused had more than 20 SIM cards with the help of forged documents and hence they have been booked on the charges of cheating and forgery along with Prevention of Gambling Act and the Indian Telegraph Act," the officer said.
The accused were produced before the Esplanade court and has been remanded to police custody till October 11.
Who is Jayanti Malad?
Jayanti has derived the name 'Malad' from his father who was popular as Vasantji Malad, a matka king from the western suburbs.
Jayanti inherited the matka business from his father and eventually ventured into cricket betting. Jayanti went through a tragic period after his son and daughter-in-law met with an accident, two years back.u00a0
It's all in the name
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