Mysuru/Mandya: On one side was the exciting IPL final where the Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant by one run in a nail-biting finish, last night at Hyderabad. On the other was the disturbing news of the IPL betting spreading its tentacles even to the rural areas and claiming the life of a teenage boy in a gruesome murder.

It may be recalled that a 14-year-old student Shashank was found murdered on May 16 with his throat slit in K.R. Pet, Mandya district.

The Police have arrested the prime accused, an 18-year-old Polytechnic student in K.R. Pet and subjected him to grilling. Out of the five involved in the crime, apart from the prime accused, another boy has been arrested.

All leads point to the IPL betting that a few minor boys are said to be allegedly involved in and the differences in the sharing of the betting money.

Shashank, a ninth standard student of Ashirwad English Medium School at Thegadahalli, was the son of Sujatha, a teacher at Bommanahalli Government School. His father Lokesh is an agriculturist. His uncle is also a teacher and hails from a cultured family.
“My son never watched cricket and he is innocent. I cannot believe that he could be involved in IPL betting and in bad company,” said Sujatha.

However, the way betting operates is very murky. People who indulge in betting normally park their money with an innocent person. Then it becomes his responsibility to distribute the spoils among the winners.

In this case, it is said that Shashank could be in possession of the money and due to some reasons not able to give the betting money of Rs. 3,000 to his friends. Frustrated, they are said to have taken the boy, assaulted him in his private parts, slit his throat in a fit of rage and escaped.

K.R. Pet Rural Police, who are investigating the case, found the calls listed in the mobile phone of Shashank and came to a conclusion that it could be the result of betting in IPL. The boy had to return Rs. 3,000 to the gamblers and since he failed to return, his own friends had murdered him, it is alleged. The Police, however, are tight-lipped. Mandya SP Sudhir Kumar Reddy and Inspector H.B. Venkateshaiah refused to divulge any information at this stage, as it would hamper the investigation.