Police Crack Down on Illegal Gambling in Gujarat, 42 Arrested

Junagadh, September 6 (Daily Kiran) : In a significant operation, Gujarat police arrested 42 individuals during a raid at an alleged gambling den located near the Chorwad Girls School in Junagadh district. The operation, conducted by the State Monitoring Cell (SMC), took place on Sunday and resulted in the seizure of cash and other valuables totaling approximately 16.02 lakh rupees.

The raid was led by Police Sub-Inspector K.D. Raviya, following directives from Director General of Police G.S. Malik aimed at combating illegal gambling and alcohol activities in the state. Authorities confiscated 3,72,200 rupees in cash, one four-wheeler, 11 two-wheelers, 42 mobile phones, and various gambling-related items.

A case has been registered under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act at the Chorwad police station. In total, 44 individuals have been identified in connection with the case, including the 42 arrested and two wanted suspects. Among those apprehended are Manish Parmar and Haresh Chudasama, who have been identified as the alleged organizers of the gambling operation.

The arrested individuals hail from Chorwad and other parts of Junagadh, as well as from Gir Somnath, Morbi, Kutch, and Rajkot. The wanted suspects have been identified as Viren Sevara and Lala, both residents of Chorwad. Police believe Lala rented out the premises for gambling activities. Investigations are ongoing.

This latest raid is part of a broader initiative by the SMC to dismantle illegal gambling and alcohol networks in the region. In August, the SMC arrested 16 people in a similar operation in Mehsana, seizing nearly 39 lakh rupees in cash, vehicles, and mobile phones. Last December, another operation in Gandhinagar resulted in the confiscation of 26.16 lakh rupees in cash and the arrest of 11 individuals.

The SMC has also conducted major operations related to alcohol prohibition, including a significant bust in Navsari in January, which resulted in the seizure of 14,016 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor valued at 37.62 lakh rupees.