Police bust illegal casino in resort, 32 persons nabbed
Saturday, 23 September 2023 | PNS | PAURI
The Pauri district police nabbed 32 people from Delhi and recovered large amounts of casino chips and cash from the Neeraj Forest Resort in the Ganga Bhogpur area of Yamkeshwar Tehsil in Pauri district late on Thursday night. The Ganga Bhogpur area was transferred from the purview of the revenue police to regular police a few months ago and is now under the jurisdiction of the Lakshmanjhula police station.
According to the police, the Pauri senior superintendent of police Shweta Choubey got the information on Thursday late night that an illegal casino is being operated in the Neeraj Forest Resort in the Ganga Bhogpur area. Taking cognisance of the information, Choubey constituted a police team under the additional superintendent of police Jaya Baloni and circle officer of Srinagar Ravindra Chamoli for prompt action. The team raided the resort at night and busted an illegal casino. On the raid of the police team, 28 people and four game associates were caught red-handed in the act of gambling. The police also found five women present at the scene.
The police recovered casino chips in large quantities, playing cards, mobile phones, luxury cars and Rs five lakh in cash. Most of the persons apprehended are from Uttamnagar in Delhi, Bijnor, Haridwar and are property dealers, contractors and businessmen. The police further informed that liquor was also being served during the gambling in the basement of the resort. The police seized the vehicles of the gamblers when they were unable to provide valid documents. The Lakshmanjhula police registered a case against the persons nabbed under section 4 of the Gambling Act. The police also registered a case against the resort operator RK Gupta and the managing director under the Gambling Act and Excise Act. The police are also checking if they have a history of crime. One of the accused Vineet is reported to be employed in the Rishikesh police station.