16 held, 35 wanted after Gujarat Police raid ‘gambling den’ in Mehsana
Mehsana, Aug 17 (IANS) The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police raided an alleged gambling den being operated in an open field at Jilani Farm on the outskirts of Poida village in Mehsana district, arresting 16 people and seizing cash, vehicles and mobile phones worth Rs 39 lakh.
Police said on Sunday that 35 more people have been declared wanted in connection with the case.
The raid was carried out by a team led by Police Inspector P.P. Brahmbhatt and Police Sub-Inspector V.N. Jadeja under the jurisdiction of Modhera Police Station.
According to the police, Rs 4,79,860 in cash, 24 mobile phones valued at Rs 2.30 lakh, 11 vehicles worth Rs 31.90 lakh and other items valued at Rs 600 were seized.
The total value of the seized property was assessed at Rs 39,00,460.
The 16 people handed over to Modhera Police were identified as Moin Khan Sikandarkhan Pathan, Nazir Mohammed Valibhai Sandhi, Vishnubhai Govabhai Rabari, Isarkhan Abdul Khan Pathan, Sarfaraz Habibbhai Fakir, Jitendrasinh Pravinsinh Zala, Mehbubsha Huseinsha Diwan, Shahrukhbhai Haidarbhai Belim, Vasantbhai Kanjibhai Chauhan, Razakbhai Iqbalbhai Saiyed, Afridi Sabirbhai Luhani, Arhaan Mehbubbhai Qureshi, Mohammed Rafiq Siddiqbhai Mansuri, Sumitbhai Rajeshbhai Kriplani, Sagarbhai Jesingbhai Desai and Rahimmiya Radhumiya Sindhi.
Police have named Arif Abdulbhai Saiyed of Surendranagar district as the alleged main accused and operator of the gambling den.
Jilani Hanifbhai Sindhi of Poida, who allegedly provided the premises, has also been named as a wanted accused and alleged partner of Saiyed.
Several other identified persons, including Karansingh Kirtisingh Solanki, Ganeshbhai Parmar and Alpesh Amreliya, are wanted, while the owners or occupants associated with several seized vehicles and mobile phones are also being traced.
Police said one person identified as Savanbhai allegedly arrived in an SUV car and fled during the raid. Twenty unidentified people also reportedly escaped from the spot.
A case has been registered under Section 12 of the Prevention of Gambling Act and Section 112(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
Further investigation is underway to trace the wanted accused and establish the full extent of the alleged gambling operation.
The raid comes amid continuing action against illegal gambling in Gujarat.
Earlier this month, the SMC raided an alleged gambling operation at Manpasand Gymkhana in Ahmedabad, where a large number of people were also detained.
–IANS
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