Hubballi cricket-betting case under Karnataka Police Act quashed
The High Court recorded that Hubballi Sub-Urban police raided three men on a public road in April 2021 for betting on an IPL match and seized cash, phones and a pen. The men were prosecuted under Section 78(1)(a)(vi) of the Karnataka Police Act, 1963. The High Court quashed the whole case, holding cricket betting is not gaming under the Act and the probe breached non-cognizable procedure.
This page records what the cited court records say happened. Findings belong to the court or authority that made them; this register adds none of its own. Names of private individuals are withheld unless a naming gate clears them.
How we verify →The prosecution in CC No.2803/2021 under Section 78(1)(a)(vi) stands quashed; no penalty survives.
What happened
The High Court recorded that the Sub-Inspector of Hubballi Sub-Urban police complained that on 20.04.2021 at about 7.35 hours information was received about cricket betting, and staff raided the public road next to Shivakripa Hospital, Hubballi.
The High Court recorded that the three accused were found betting on an IPL T20 match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi, and police seized more than Rs 8,090, two mobile phones and one ballpoint pen under a seizure panchanama.
The High Court recorded that Section 78(3) is non-cognizable, so police needed a Magistrate's permission under Section 155 Cr.P.C., which was not shown, and it cited the Vaggeppa guidelines on such permission.
The High Court cited its coordinate bench view that cricket is a sport and betting on it cannot be brought within the definition of gaming in the Karnataka Police Act, and quashed the proceedings in CC No.2803/2021.
What the record says
“(ii) The proceedings initiated against the petitioners/accused Nos.1 to 3 in Hubli Sub-Urban Police Station crime No.68/2021, which is registered in C.C.No.2803/2021, pending on the file of learned Principal Civil Judge and JMFC, Hubballi, for the offence punishable under Section 78(1)(a)(vi) of the Karnataka Police, Act, 1963, is hereby quashed.”
Crl.P No.102417 of 2026, operative order — read the full text
No complaining victim
The men were punished only for wagering their own money on a cricket match, an act with no victim, cheat or fraud alleged.
What we could not confirm
Time of raid is printed as 7.35 hours without a.m./p.m. clarity; team names Delhi as Delhi Daaredevils as printed.