One of the top bookies in the country, Shobhan Subodh Mehta alias Shobhan Kalachowki, had been using a Sim card registered in the name of a dead man for betting on IPL matches, the police probe has revealed. Investigators learnt about this when they inquired with the dead man’s relative, who is also a witness in the case. The police has mentioned the fact in the witness’ statement, which is part of the 11,609-page chargesheet of the crime branch filed before court on Saturday.
According to the police, Shobhan’s name first cropped up in the investigation when they went through the details of the phone calls and SMSes of Ramesh Vyas, who was the first person to be arrested in the IPL scandal from his Lalwani Mansion flat in Kalbadevi on May 14.
“During the probe, we learnt that Shobhan was using three numbers for IPL betting with other bookies identified as Badri Jaipur, Devendra Kothhari, Ashwin Aggarwal alias Tinku Mandi, Chandresh Mehta alias Jupitor, Sandip alias Pawan Jaipur. Following the tip, Shobhan was arrested on July 5 from Goa and two Sim cards, which were used for betting, were seized from him,” said a crime branch officer.
When investigators obtained the details of the four Sim cards that Shobhan was using, they were shocked to find that the first three numbers were owned by Shobhan’s friend, Manish T. Shah, who is a small time businessman from Dombivali, while the fourth one was registered in a dead man’s name.
Mr Shah, in his statement to the police, has said, “On the insistence of Shobhan, who is my friend for the past eight years, I gave him three Sim cards around four years ago, but after he was arrested by the police I realised that he was misusing those Sim cards for betting.” Mr Manish Shah also mentioned in the statement, “I gave Shobhan a Sim number which is registered in the name of my relative Ajay Jayant Shah. Marine Drive resident Ajay passed away in December 2012.” Mr Manish Shah also submitted a copy of Ajay’s death certificate to the police.