In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai police have arrested India’s top most bookies Devendra Kothari, Sonu Malad and three others from a plush flat at Lokhandwala Township, Kandivli (East) yesterday evening. A special team headed by senior inspector Arun Chavhan, acting on a tip-off, laid a trap at Whispering Palm building, and caught the bookies red-handed in the 18th floor flat while accepting bets in the IPL match between Kings XI Punjab and Chennai Super Kings.u00a0

Police said they have seized 20 mobile phones, two laptops, Rs 5 lakh and a television from the flat.According to cops, Devendra Kothari alias Bhaijee and Sonu Malad alias Dedhfutiya are big names in the betting fraternity, while the remaining three are just their assistants. Cops said that Kothari is an international bookie and accepts bets from punters based in Dubai, Australia, Africa and Pakistan.