Bengaluru police arrest illegal spy camera dealer

Bengaluru, June 20 (IANS) A Chikmagalur native has been arrested in the city for illegally selling spy cameras, mostly used by gamblers, according to an official, here on Saturday.

“We have arrested Imran for dealing in spy cameras, basically used by gamblers,” Central Crime Branch (CCB) Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Kuldeep Jain told IANS. He has been arrested under IPC Section 420.

According to Jain, the spy cameras are paired with other gadgets to visually eavesdrop on a poker competitor to hoodwink and beat him. “They used specific types of playing cards with embedded QR code. These cameras with a scanner kind of device showed what cards were being betted upon,” said Jain.

Using these devices, gamblers could read cards of competitors sitting to his/her left or right and make invincible moves. “They also used bluetooth devices and a mobile phone kind of a set that displayed scanned cards,” he said.

Similarly, a gambler could set up the spy camera on his trousers or in his shirt button to eavesdrop on unsuspecting fellow gamblers.

Another tactic employed, Jain said was to fit the spy camera into a wad of currency notes, pledged and placed on the table, to gain an edge over rivals.

Imran was picked up from HRBR Layout. The police seized a bunch of gadgets, like remote controls, playing cards and cash.

He procured the spying gadgets, imported from China, from Delhi. “We are interrogating Imran as to who all he supplied the gadgets to,” Jain said.

–IANS

sth/pcj