The closed-door gatherings, especially during Shravan, as people tend to gamble in this festive period has now reached illegally operating hi-tech gambling dens in the twin-city.
Tightening their screws against such activities, sleuths of the crime branch unit (Zone I) busted a gambling den that was clandestinely operating behind the closed doors of three halls located in an upscale shopping center in Mira Road.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by API Aviraj Kurhade and PSI Hitendra Vichare swooped down on the den located in Shanti Shopping Centre near the railway station in Mira Road late on Thursday night.
The team was surprised to find that a massive gambling den was running behind the closed doors of three halls. 36 people including the manager identified as Anil Rampratap Singh (26), a resident of Kandivali, nine machine operators and 26 people, some even from Gujarat who were found to be placing bets were taken into custody and booked under the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887.
Apart from multi-socket ports for routers and 45 gambling machines programmed for various card games and poker, the police team seized cash amounting more than Rs. 4 lakh. The players had to pay cash at the counter in exchange for which they were given online credit to play the game. The winners were given chips which were redeemed in cash during exit, said a police officer.
The raiding team comprised personnel Raju Tambe, Kishore Vadile, Garje, Pathan, Landge, Jadhan and Pushpendra Thapa.
Several online gambling dens are operating in the twin-city. “Our action will continue till we flush out the entire gambling menace from the twin-cities,” said Kurhade.
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