MH-BETTING ARREST

A suspected bookie was arrested

Tuesday for allegedly being a part of a cricket betting racket

that was busted by police in suburban Santacruz last week,

taking the total number of people in police custody to eight,

an officer said.

Altogether 29 accused were part of the racket and used

to accept bets for the Big Bash League T20 tournament held in

Australia, said Santacruz police station senior inspector

Shriram Koregoankar.

"We nabbedbookie Nikunj Thakkar in connection with

the incident on Tuesday. His role in the racket is being

investigated," he said.

Until now seven persons have been arrested and further

investigation was underway, the officer said.

The racket was busted with the arrest of four people

from a flat.

Police had seized a dozen of mobile phone handsets, a

laptop and other incriminating material collectively worth

over Rs 1 lakh from the flat.

The accused have been booked under relevant sections

of Indian Telegram Act, Indian Penal Code and the Maharashtra

Prevention of Gambling Act.