Police busts betting racket
Police on Tuesday recovered Rs 73.30 lakhs in cash and 104 pieces of gold ornaments from a city florist shop that was acting as a betting den in Ambawadi. Six persons were arrested.

The raid was conducted at the Kalgi Florist behind Gujarat College in Ambawadi by DCP Zone I Ajay Tomar. A nexus of bookies was also unearthered. The racket had been operating for quite some time and is said to have been well established. The florist shop served for collecting bets from all over the state for ongoing cricket matches and those matches being played across the world, say the police. Behind the shop, the police also found a room full of small cubicles where bets placed were stored. The bets were either in cash or as gold ornaments.

Police arrested six persons who were said to be the main operators: Kirit Shah, Hitesh Darji, Hiren Modi, Suresh Shastri, Tarun Karia and Ashok Thakker and also seized a bottle of liquor, a list containing names of bookies, detailed record of bets placed for various cricket matches and a list detailing matches to be played in India and abroad. The florist shop served as the headquarters for the chief operator Mahendra Mukhi, who is absconding. A case has been registered against all the arrested under the Gambling Act and under 120 B for conspiracy. A separate case has also been registered under the Prohibition Act in connection with the liquor seized.

Republished from The Asian Age