Prank Kidnap Call Leads KPHB Police to ₹30 Lakh Cricket Betting Racket

A prank kidnapping call led the KPHB police to uncover an illicit cricket betting operation and seize ₹30 lakh in cash from an apartment at a gated community in KPHB. Officers detained three youths who were allegedly operating Telegram channels to provide match predictions and promote online betting applications for a commission.

The police identified the three occupants of the flat as Desineni Sumanth, Makati Manoj, and Kanumuri Gowtham Chowdary.

According to the police, the incident began early on Saturday after they received an emergency call reporting a suspected kidnapping at the gated community. When a police team arrived at the location, they discovered that the kidnapping report was entirely false. Further inquiries revealed that Sumanth had made a prank call to his girlfriend, which led the police directly to the flat.

During a search of the premises, officers found ₹30 lakh in cash, one tablet, and three mobile phones. Investigators stated that the trio operated Telegram channels dedicated to cricket predictions while promoting betting apps to earn commissions. The police have launched an inquiry to determine the exact source of the seized cash.

A case has been registered at the KPHB police station based on a petition submitted to the police. Investigators are currently examining the seized mobile phones and tablet to gather additional details regarding the Telegram channels, betting applications, and associated financial transactions.