Rishikesh (Uttarakhand), September 22 (PTI) – In a recent operation, the Uttarakhand Police successfully apprehended more than 30 individuals involved in illicit gambling activities, including four women, at a resort situated in the Bhogpur Talla village near Laxman Jhula, according to a high-ranking law enforcement official.
During the course of the operation, law enforcement officials seized a significant amount of evidence, including 3,993 casino chips, in excess of Rs 5 lakh in cash, and over a dozen bottles of liquor.
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Shweta Choubey, Senior Superintendent of Police (Pauri), shared with the press that a total of 32 gamblers, inclusive of four women, were taken into custody during a late-night operation conducted on Thursday.
Nevertheless, it was highlighted that the owner of the resort, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, and the resort’s manager, Sahil Grover, managed to evade capture.
As per the official’s account, the police had received intelligence indicating the presence of an extensive gambling operation at the resort between September 20 and 24.
In an effort to substantiate this information, an undercover police officer posed as a customer and gained access to the resort. Once the authenticity of the tip-off was verified, a police squad led by Additional Superintendent of Police (Kotdwar), Jaya Baluni, along with Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ravindra Chamoli, executed the raid.
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The operation divulged that gambling-related transactions, including both winnings and losses, were being settled through online means, with the organizers taking a five percent commission. In addition to the 28 gamblers, four women who were assisting in the operation were also apprehended.
The arrested individuals are currently being transported to Kotdwar for legal proceedings, as confirmed by Choubey.
The raid yielded a cache of evidence, including Rs 5.16 lakh in cash, 3,993 chips, eight decks of cards, 37 mobile phones, and over a dozen bottles of liquor, the official stated.
Choubey further elucidated that a thorough investigation into the online transactions would be conducted, and if any significant irregularities were discovered, the matter could potentially be referred to the Enforcement Directorate.
Of note, Rajesh Kumar Gupta, the proprietor of Neeraj Forest Resort, had previously served a prison sentence under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. Gupta purported to possess expertise in treating epilepsy and ran a medical clinic in the vicinity. PTI
