IPL scam: Enforcement Directorate arrests bookie Mukesh Sharma, conducts nationwide searches

NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested bookie Mukesh Sharma and carried out nationwide searches, including Delhi, Mumbai and Jaipur, in connection with its hawala and money laundering probe against some betting syndicates related to the IPL T20 cricket matches.

According to ED, around a dozen places and locations in Thane and Gurgaon were raided by the Ahmedabad office of the agency in coordination with their local counterparts in these locations.

"The searches are aimed at investigating some top links active in betting in matches in the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. This is an extension of similar raids that were conducted by the agency on May 10," said an official. They said the action has been mounted on suspects who acted as bookies during the recent IPL matches held in the country.

The probe is being handled by the ED’s Ahmedabad office which is investigating the case for hawala and money laundering charges. A team of over 30 officials are part of search teams, the sources said.