LCB busts late-night gambling den near Gandhinagar, 10 arrested

The Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Gujarat has cracked down on illegal gambling activities in rural areas of Gandhinagar, arresting 10 people during a late-night raid on a gambling den operating on the outskirts of Valad village. Cash and valuables worth ₹17.64 lakh were seized during the operation.

The raid was carried out around midnight after the LCB received specific intelligence that a gambling operation was being run from a farm located on Mendra Railway Station Road. Acting on the tip-off, an LCB Police Inspector-led team secured the premises and conducted a surprise raid.

Police said the accused were found gambling by lamplight when officers arrived. Several attempted to flee after spotting the police but were chased and detained. However, the alleged organiser of the gambling den, Ajay Vinuji Thakor of Valad village, managed to escape and is currently absconding.

The operation followed an earlier LCB action on Wednesday, when a large consignment of foreign liquor was seized in Valad village. Investigators said the gambling raid was conducted shortly after that success, based on further inputs received by the LCB team.

Those arrested have been identified as Pragnesh Karansinh Bihola of Ratanpur; Lalit Kalaji Thakor, Vishal Becharji Thakor, Jagdish Maheshji Thakor, Bhaktibhai Baldevbhai Vyas and Kishan Bipinbhai Patel, all residents of Valad; Bipin Dasharathbhai of Singarwa in Daskroi; Tushar Jagdishbhai Thakor of Shahpur; Amratji Chehraji Thakor of Kadadara; and Girishkumar Fakirji Thakor of Vajapura.

During the raid, police seized ₹2.75 lakh in cash, four luxury vehicles and nine mobile phones. The total value of the seized items is estimated at ₹17,64,320.

A case has been registered against all the accused at Dabhoda police station. Police teams have launched a search operation to trace the absconding organiser, Ajay Thakor.