IPL betting racket busted in Maharashtra — ₹87 lakh seized ahead of GT vs RR Qualifier 2 | Watch

Rajasthan Royals (RR) registered a clinical win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Eliminator of IPL 2026. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jofra Archer played key roles in the victory and helped RR move into the next round. Now, the Rajasthan Royals are set to face the  Gujarat Titans (GT) in Qualifier 2.

This high-voltage contest will take place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Friday at 7:30 PM IST. The winner of this match will directly qualify for the final, where they will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Sunday.

Meanwhile, amid the big clash, significant news has emerged from Maharashtra, nearly 1,550 km away from the Qualifier 2 venue. An IPL betting racket was recently busted in Ichalkaranji city of Kolhapur district. According to reports, police have seized property worth around ₹87 lakh linked to the illegal betting operation. Nine individuals, including corporator Nitesh Powar, have reportedly been taken into custody in connection with the case.

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Where was the racket operating — and how did Police track it down before the Qualifier 2?

The IPL betting racket was operating from Ichalkaranji city in the Kolhapur district of Maharashtra. In a major crackdown, police busted the illegal setup and seized property worth nearly ₹87 lakh linked to the betting network. Nine people, including corporator Nitesh Powar, have reportedly been taken into custody in connection with the case.

In a separate, detailed operation, six people were arrested for running an online betting operation on IPL matches from a footwear store in the Industrial Estate area of Ichalkaranji. The raid was carried out on Sunday evening, during which officials seized valuables worth ₹58 lakh 90 thousand 230, including expensive mobile phones, laptops, cash, and three luxury four-wheelers, according to Additional Superintendent of Police Annasaheb Jadhav.

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The arrested individuals have been identified as Amey Vilas Badve (32), Abhijit Vilas Badve (30), Ganesh Prakash Patil (27), Uttam Singh Pratap Singh Bagga (38), Yakub Abdul Mujawar (47), and Rishabh Umesh Patil (26). All of them were produced in court and initially remanded to police custody for further investigation.

Police said the operation was launched after receiving specific intelligence about IPL betting activities in the area. Speaking on the raid, Additional Superintendent of Police Annasaheb Jadhav confirmed that multiple electronic devices, including 12 mobile phones and laptops, along with cash, were seized during the crackdown.

What was seized? Cash, devices & property worth ₹87 lakh — Full details of the Maharashtra bust

Maharashtra Police carried out a targeted raid and seized valuables worth approximately ₹87 lakh in total. The operation was conducted ahead of the high-stakes GT vs RR IPL 2026 Qualifier 2, a period when illegal betting activity typically surges across the country.

The recovered items paint a clear picture of how organised the racket was. Police found high-end mobile phones, laptops, and a significant amount of cash on the premises. Three luxury four-wheelers were also seized, suggesting the operation was both well-funded and professionally run.

Additional Superintendent of Police Annasaheb Jadhav officially confirmed the details of the seizures and announced the arrests made during the operation. Authorities have indicated that further investigation is underway to identify any wider network connected to the betting ring.

How big is IPL illegal betting in India — and why do busts spike during Playoff season?

Illegal betting during the IPL is not a new problem, but its scale grows noticeably every season. In the past as well, the BCCI and police authorities have uncovered several betting-related cases during major IPL seasons. As the tournament reaches its final stages, the volume of money flowing through unauthorised betting operations increases sharply. Playoff matches attract far higher stakes than regular league games, which makes them a prime target for organised betting rings operating across the country.

The Maharashtra bust offers a clear look at how these operations function in the digital age. After receiving a tip-off at Shivaji Nagar Police Station in Ichalkaranji, a police team moved quickly and raided the betting operation. Six accused were taken into custody, and 12 mobile phones, laptops, and cash were recovered from the site. The accused were subsequently produced before the court, which remanded them to three days of police custody for further investigation.

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Authorities believe the seized electronic devices could hold critical data linked to betting transactions and a potentially wider gambling network. Modern betting rackets rely heavily on smartphones, laptops, and online payment methods, which makes them more organised but also leaves a digital trail. Police officials are now analysing the recovered devices to determine whether this operation was part of a larger syndicate active across multiple cities.

As investigators dig deeper into the Maharashtra case, cricket fans across the country are turning their attention to the field.  Shubman Gill's Gujarat Titans against Riyan Parag's Rajasthan Royals tonight in IPL 2026 Qualifier 2 at the Mullanpur Stadium in New Chandigarh, with the winner earning a place in the final against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 31. The contrast could not be sharper — while millions watch legally and passionately, busts like this serve as a firm reminder that illegal betting remains a serious threat to the integrity of the game.