Calcutta: A licensed bookmaker with the RCTC, Ajit Sureka, was arrested by the city police on Wednesday.

He is behind the bars on suspicion of spot-fixing in cricket, a charge that has left the racing circles shocked.

According to a source, the Delhi Police, which cracked the spot-fixing scandal, is expected to send a team here on Friday. Obviously, with the aim of interrogating Sureka.

The RCTC had licensed Sureka’s book, Aman & Company, about four years ago. Sureka’s company is the winner of the leading bookmakers’ award in the recently concluded winter racing season.

“It’s a shocking news… It’s a shameful day for us,” said Anil Sharma, president of the Calcutta Bookmakers’ Association.

Sudhir Kothari, secretary & CFO of RCTC, said he was unaware of the development. “I’m not aware of his arrest. I’m also not aware of his activities outside the racecourse,” Kothari said.

RCTC has always been careful while granting license to the bookies. “A police enquiry, into the past of a budding bookmaker, was always a must but the club is quite satisfied now with a self-declaration,” said a club member who did not want to named.

The matter may come up for discussion at the RCTC stewards’ meeting, scheduled to be held on Saturday. The meeting was fixed before the arrest of Sureka.

Renewal of bookmakers’ annual licenses, which has been put on hold by the club, will also be on the agenda.

The three main points which are unacceptable to the bookmakers are: the proposed increase of betting unit from Rs 100 to Rs 400; an extra guaranteed revenue of Rs 1.5 crore in addition to Rs 10 crore bookies have been paying annually; and the enhancement of the daily operation fee by Rs 1,000.