With the beginning of fresh T-20 season, the illegal  'Satta' (betting) business is back.In separate raids, district crime branches of Bhilai and Rajanandgaon police busted two cricket betting rackets and exposed betting amount running into several lakhs of rupees. Seven persons were arrested in this connection, police said on Sunday.

According to police, the revival of 'Satta' during T-20 season is common. In Talpuri area of Bhilai, six persons were arrested and 'Satta-Patti' (betting record book) indicating betting record of Rs 5 lakh was seized from their possession.

 Superintendent of Police Durg, Anand Chabda informed that mobile phones and cash amounting to Rs 14,000 along with television sets were also seized from the accused. 

 The raid was jointly conducted based on a tip-off by a team consisting crime branch sleuths and Bhilai Nagar police. Raid was conducted in Parijat Apartments located in posh Talpuri area of Bhilai, police said.

 The accused were betting on the T-20 match between England and South Africa.  They were identified as Ashish Reddy (22), resident of Sector-3 Bhilai, Robin Sadhwani, Sector-2, Bhilai, Vivek Prakash (21), resident of Sector-1 Bhilai, Pintu Vaishnav (21), hailing from Rajnandgaon, Avinash Singh (20), from Korba, and Sumit Yadav (21), resident of Sector-1 Bhilai. The 'Satta' was being conducted in the house of Robin Sadhwani when the raid was conducted, police said. 

 In a separate action, Rajnandgaon police raided a house located in Mamta Nagar and arrested a bookie who was betting money for T-20 matches.

The accused was identified as Sahil Gaffar, resident of Mahamaya Chowk. He was placing bets on Australia-West Indies match, informed City Superintendent of Police Mohan Dubey who had conducted the raid. Cash amounting to Rs 41,000, mobile phone and betting records were seized from his possession, police said.