Prasanth M. Paul, 48, one of the high-flying bookies in the city, surrendered at CB-CID office while sleuths raided at least three premises belonging to him and two other bookies of IPL cricket matches on Monday. “We raided the premises of Prasanth and other bookies Kitty and Sanjay Bafna on Monday. We recovered a few documents along with lap tops we are scrutinising them,” a senior CB-CID official disclosed.
“I am just a part of a big network. By arresting me, you cannot stop the operation of this network. I have been doing this since the year 1997,” he reportedly told the investigating officers when he was questioned in detention at the CB-CID office on Monday evening.
Police sources indicated that Prasanth was seen hobnobbing with former Union ministers and political leaders in the past. “His house warming ceremony in Ayanavaram was attended by political leaders. He is well connected with people who matters,” police sources said. However CB-CID officials, when asked about Prasanath’s political links, preferred to downplay it saying that they were not probing into his political links but his connection with the illegal betting network.
The TN police began their crackdown on bookies on Thursday night by arresting Harish Bajaj of Choolai, Virudhachalam of R.A. Puram, Lucky alias Narbath of Purasaivakkam, Praveen Kumar alias Papu Gautham of Sowcarpet, Deepak Bajaj and Sunil Bhajanlal of Kilpauk.