KPL betting: Bookies blackmailed players through honey-trapping

News Network
November 21, 2019

Nov 21: In a new development in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL) match-fixing scandal, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Wednesday revealed that players had allegedly been blackmailed through honey-trapping tactics by bookies.

The police commissioner shared new details of the scandal while announcing that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was being formed within the Central Crime Branch (CCB), which is currently investigating the match-fixing scandal that has jolted the league.

Bhaskar Rao said that bookies filmed players enjoying themselves on luxurious trips. The players were sent on trips to places like Dubai and the Caribbean. They were provided with five-star accommodation, money and escorts. Their activities were filmed and they were later blackmailed with the videos from their trips. Worried that the tapes would be leaked, the players followed bookies' instructions, the Deccan Herald reported.

The police commissioner added that some of the results of matches played in the league were decided before the matches began.

The match-fixing scandal came to light in September this year with the arrest of Belagavi Panthers owner Ali Asfak. Since then, details have slowly emerged revealing a wide web of match-fixing in the Twenty20 cricket league, by bookies.

Former Karnataka cricketers CM Gautam and Abrar Kazi were arrested by the CCB on charges of fixing in the KPL final held in March this year.

Gautam, who was the captain of Bellary Tuskers, and Abrar who plays for the same team, allegedly accepted Rs 20 lakh for "slow batting" in the final against Hubli Tigers. Bellary Tuskers lost the final by 8 runs and the manner in which they lost has now raised suspicions of a match-fixing scandal.

Chasing 153 runs, Bellary Tuskers ended their innings at 144. Opening batsman Gautam scored a 37-ball 29 while Kazi struck 13 off six deliveries.

KPL is run by the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) every year on the lines of the popular Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Bhaskar Rao said that the regulatory bodies - KSCA and BCCI - should have acted soon after the scandal came to light and confirmed that members of both bodies will be summoned for interrogation.

In all, seven people have been arrested in connection with the scam. Investigating officials had recently issued a ‘lookout circular' against the Bellary Tuskers team owner Arvind Venkatesh Reddy.

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News Network
June 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 18: Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has deployed a COVID-19 infection control "surveillance team" to look after travellers coming from other states.

Those coming to Bengaluru Urban and Bengaluru Rural Districts must undergo a 14-day home quarantine.

The Bengaluru Mayor today inaugurated surveillance team at Dr Raj Kumar Glass House.

Deputy Mayor Ramamohan Raju, Health Standing Committee Chairman Manjunath Raju G, Special Commissioners D Randeep, Manjunath, Superintendent of Police Mr Murugan and other officials were also present in the event.

There are 7,944 coronavirus cases in Karnataka including 2,843 active cases and 4,983discharged. 114 patients have succumbed to COVID-19 in the state. 844 positive cases were reported in Bengaluru Urban and 39 in Bengaluru Rural.

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News Network
July 15,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 15: Karnataka on Wednesday reported 3,176 new cases taking the total count of cases in the state to 47,253.

A total of 1,975 new cases were reported from the Bengaluru alone, the state's health department said.

The toll has gone up to 928 with 87 deaths reported today.

The total count of COVID-19 cases in the country is 9,36,181.

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 18,2020

Bengaluru, May 18: Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa today announced lockdown relaxations from tomorrow (May 19) across the state. As per new guidelines public transport services will start operations outside COVID-19 containment zones in the state. 

 “To facilitate easy movements of citizens, services of the BMTC, KSRTC, NEKRTC and NWKRTC will start from Tuesday morning, except in containment zones. Even private buses can ply,” Yediyurappa said, after discussing the Centre's Lockdown 4.0 guidelines with his Cabinet colleagues and officials. 

“The only condition is that only 30 people should travel in one bus so as to ensure social distancing,” the CM said. 

He also clarified that bus fares will not be hiked. “I know there will be losses incurred. The government will bear the losses,” he said. 

Auto rickshaws, taxis and maxi cabs (six-passenger vehicles) will also be allowed to operate. “Auto rickshaws and taxis will have a driver and two passengers. Maxi cabs will have a driver and three passengers,” Yediyurappa said. 

All parks in the state will be open 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm. 

Starting Tuesday, all shops except malls and theatres can open. “This includes salons,” the CM said. 

All relaxation will cease to exist every Sunday, the CM said. “Every Sunday will be a complete lockdown. There’ll be no shops and the movement of people. It’ll be a complete rest day,” he said. 

The existing curfew from 7 pm to 7 am will continue on all days, which means public transport services will not be allowed during this time. 

Trains will run within the state, but interstate trains will not be allowed till May 31, the CM said. 

It is mandatory for citizens to wear masks in public. “Not wearing a mask will be penalised,” Yediyurappa said. 

On the classification of zones, Yediyurappa said the government's main focus was containment zones. “We're particular about containment zones. In the Karwar district, for example, Bhatkal will be a containment zone and no other taluk will have restrictions,” he said. 

However, the government will review the relaxation based on how things pan out. “States have been given the freedom, so we can withdraw or modify as necessary,” he said.

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