Police have arrested over 20 people on the charge of online betting during a cricket match between Nepal and the United Arab Emirates played at the TU cricket ground on Friday.

A team of police from the Central Investigation Bureau backed by police personnel from Police Circle, Kirtipur rounded them up from the cricket ground.

Additional Inspector General of Police Uttam Subedi at CIB said police are investigating the case after seizing their mobile phones.

The police said that some audiences who were involved in suspicious activities in the first match of the series on Monday were kept under surveillance. Some people were detained today while conducting an investigation, police added.

Nepali laws bar betting. Section 125 of the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017 prohibits gambling and betting in Nepal.

Nepal Police bust numerous illicit betting rings every year, however, they are only able to apprehend agents because the majority of those involved in running these rings are usually located abroad.