![[Image: sreesanth_2569630b.jpg]](http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/02569/sreesanth_2569630b.jpg)
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The Indian Premier League has never been shy of controversy in the 8 seasons since its inauguration.
Over the years, various franchises have been accused of betting or fixing of some sort and the number of incidents that have come to light regarding illegal betting on IPL matches has always been on the rise.
So it does not come as a surprise that the current season of the Premier League is also under scrutiny.
The competition has over the years become a source of income for a number of groups who deal in a ball to ball or result betting and just more than two weeks into the current season, the bust-ups have started.
It was reported by the Mid-day that 4 persons were allegedly arrested for illegal online betting of the match between the SRH and KIXP earlier last week.
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Harshad (42), Shamsu (45), Ifsul Rehman (34) and Mohammed Rasheed (31), all businessmen are all understood to be involved in the illegal activity in a private building and are were detained by the Kerala Police.
It was revealed that the case was booked under the provisions of Kerala Gaming Act. It was also explained by the authorities that the accused would log into an Indian betting site as soon as the IPL matches commenced and start betting on the teams which is currently illegal in India.
The arrests were made by Nadakavu Circle Inspector Moosa Vallikkadan and Sub Inspector G Gopakumar made the arrest after North Assistant commisisoner, K Ashraf received information regarding the same.
Police have seized six mobile phones, computers and Rs 5.02 lakh from the accused who were later released on bail.
Not long later, a similar story came out of New Delhi.
The Delhi police revealed that they have arrested a restaurant owner and a class XII student after busting a betting syndicate during the match between Delhi and Mumbai this week.
Rachit Gupta (22), who runs a restaurant in Rajouri Garden, and Vikas, a Class 12 student were the two people who were arrested according to a report from Mid-day
It is understood that Gupta wanted to open a chain of restaurants in the capital for which he indulged in cricket betting with Vikas.
Police have recovered an LCD TV, mobile phones, three chargers and a notebook from the alleged and have also revealed that a bet of up to Rs 5 lakh was placed on the game.
“We received information from constable Ansar that there will be betting on IPL 2016 cricket match and the betting syndicate is operational from a house in Punjabi building, Roshanara Road, Delhi,” DCP (North) Madhur Verma said
These controversies do not bode well for the image of the competition that has already been damaged after the officials had to shunt the Rajasthan Royals and the Chennai Super Kings out of the tournament this year due to involvement in illegal activity.
But with betting activities going on all around the country, the police will find it hard to completely eradicate the activities but will have to search high and dry to put an end to this shameful activities.