Cricket betting crackdown exposes political nexus in Visakhapatnam

A major crackdown on illegal cricket betting in Visakha patnam has exposed a disturbing network allegedly involving political figures and highlighting the devastating impact of gambling on local youth. The city is reeling from reports of individuals losing homes, sinking into debt, and even resorting to suicide due to pressure from ruthless bet collectors.
The scale of the problem has sparked widespread concern, with whispers of official complicity in protecting the perpetrators. “It’s devastating to see how deep this runs,” a local source commented. “Lives are being ruined, and no one seems to be held accountable.”
On January 6, the city’s task force police made a significant breakthrough, raiding an apartment in Pedda Waltair and arresting L. Ravikumar, a suspected kingpin of a major betting syndicate. Ravikumar allegedly managed illegal betting operations via laptops and mobile phones, using the ‘SAUDA’ app. Four others, B. Ravikumar, P. Trinath, Jilani, and Karthik (the latter three currently at large), were also implicated.
The raid yielded a trove of evidence, including laptops and phones, which revealed links to 82 individuals involved in illicit financial transactions. Police also uncovered 103 unique transaction IDs tied to popular mobile payment services like PhonePe and GooglePe, totalling lakhs of rupees, underscoring the vast scale of the underground betting market. Disturbingly, investigators discovered evidence suggesting the bookies used intimidation tactics. Rowdies were allegedly employed to enforce payments from those who lost bets, escalating the situation beyond simple illegal gambling into organized crime. “This isn’t just about illegal gambling anymore,” an investigator stated. “This is organized crime, with real-world consequences.”
The most alarming aspect of the case is the alleged involvement of political figures. It has emerged that three of the five accused had long-standing affiliations with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) before recently switching allegiances after the formation of the current coalition government. Sources indicate that a public representative attempted to intervene upon one of the gang members’ arrest, seeking to influence the investigation.