Bhubaneswar: At least 71 people, including government employees, businessmen and a retired police officer, were arrested after police raided an alleged gambling den in Odisha’s Gajapati district, seizing over Rs 12 lakh in cash, 60 mobile phones and nine four-wheelers, an officer said on Monday.
The raid was conducted at Jai Matadi Kalyan Mandap in Deviti village under Paralakhemundi police limits on Sunday night following credible information and after obtaining a search warrant, Paralakhemundi IIC Prashant Bhupati said.
Those arrested include Kurmanath Rath (55), a section officer at Rayagada block; Ushat Kumar Dash (51), an officer in the Agriculture Department; and K Appala Naidu (66), a retired police officer from Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, he said.
The accused were allegedly found playing cards and wagering money at tables when the police team raided the premises, Bhupati said.
The seized items include over Rs 12.03 lakh in cash, 954 playing cards, 102 betting tokens, a currency-counting machine, 60 mobile phones and nine four-wheelers.
A preliminary investigation revealed that T Nageswar Rao, a native of Andhra Pradesh, was allegedly operating the gambling den with the assistance of B Prasad and seven other associates, the officer said.
The building owner was also allegedly aware of the gambling operations and had consented to the illegal activities, he added.
Further investigation into the case is underway.
