Belagavi police have apprehended two men from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly defrauding a 19-year-old state-level cricketer from Karnataka of ₹24 lakh with a bogus promise of selection into the Rajasthan Royals IPL team.
The arrested individuals, identified as Susanjan and Diwakar from Sultanpur district, are both in their late twenties. The arrests were made following a complaint by the victim, Rakesh Yadure, a cricketer from Chinchani village in Chikkodi taluk, Belagavi district.
Superintendent of Police Bheemashankar S. Guled informed the media that Susanjan had previously duped others using a similar method, while Diwakar is believed to be involved in such fraud for the first time.
Police reports indicate that Yadure had impressed selectors during a tournament in Hyderabad in May 2024 and later posted his performance clips on Instagram. He soon received a friend request from one of the accused, who pretended to be a scout for Rajasthan Royals.
In December 2024, Yadure received a message claiming he had been shortlisted, along with a link to a fake registration form requiring an initial payment of ₹2,000. Between December 22, 2024, and April 19, 2025, he ended up transferring a total of ₹23.53 lakh, enticed by promises of match fees ranging from ₹40,000 to ₹8 lakh.
The fraud came to light after Yadure realised he had been duped and approached the Cyber, Economic, and Narcotics (CEN) Crime Police Station in Belagavi on May 17. His father, a KSRTC security guard, supported him in filing the complaint.
SP Guled stated that the accused had used the scammed amount for personal luxuries and cautioned the public: “Youngsters must be cautious about online claims related to sports selections or job offers. Always verify through official sources.”
The two accused are currently in police custody as investigations continue to determine if there are more victims.
