Belagavi police arrested two persons from Uttar Pradesh on the charge of defrauding a young cricketer from Belagavi.
Susanjan and Diwakar, both around 25, were arrested from their hometown in Sultanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. This followed a long and detailed investigation by the Belagavi police.
They face charges of collecting over ₹24 lakh from the family of Rakesh Yadure of Chinchani near Chikkodi. They had lied to the young sportsperson’s family that they would get him selected to the Rajasthan Royals IPL cricket team. The boy comes from a humble background. His father, a security guard, took loans to pay the conmen.
Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S. Guled told reporters in Belagavi on June 12 that Susanjan had previously cheated two others using a similar modus operandi, while Diwakar appeared to be a first-time offender.
Mr. Yadure, 19, had excelled in a cricket match in Hyderabad in May 2024. He posted photos and videos of the match on Instagram. The fraudsters, claiming to be selectors from the IPL team, sent him friend requests, and said he was under consideration.
In December 2024, Mr. Yadure received a message claiming he had been shortlisted for the IPL team. The message included a link to a ‘registration form’ and requested an initial payment of ₹2,000.
Over the next few months — between December 22, 2024, and April 19, 2025 — Mr. Yadure’s father made multiple payments totalling ₹23.53 lakh. The duo promised fees ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹8 lakh per match.
The cricketer’s family filed a complaint with the Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) Police Station on May 17 this year.
Dr. Guled advised people, especially the youth, to be cautious of such scams. “We urge citizens, especially youngsters, not to fall for online claims of sports selection, jobs, or cash rewards. Always verify such claims,” he said.
Published – June 13, 2025 10:11 am IST
