SMC gambling raid in Nadiad nets 19 accused with cash, assets worth ₹5 lakh

Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) conducted a late-night raid at an open plot behind Faizan Park in Nadiad town of Kheda district, arresting 19 persons and seizing cash, mobile phones and vehicles amounting to ₹5.77 lakh, police said on Sunday.

The raid was carried out on the intervening night of January 18 and 19 under the provisions of the Prevention of Gambling Act and Section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The action was taken within the jurisdiction of Nadiad Town Police Station.

The SMC team swooped down on the gambling den operating in the open plot and recovered ₹1lakh in cash from the spot. Fifteen mobile phones valued at ₹61,500, six vehicles worth ₹4.15 lakh, a battery valued at ₹200 and two plastic chairs worth ₹400 were also seized during the operation.

All 19 accused were detained and subsequently handed over to Nadiad Town Police Station for further legal proceedings. The arrested persons are residents of Nadiad, Ahmedabad city, Anand district, Vadodara city and Ahmedabad rural, indicating the involvement of individuals from multiple districts.

Police said six accused are currently absconding, while the owners of two seized Suzuki Burgman scooters and a Samsung mobile phone are yet to be identified. In addition, 12 to 13 unknown persons who were allegedly present at the gambling site managed to flee before the raid.

An FIR has been registered, and efforts are under way to trace the absconding accused and establish the ownership of the seized vehicles and electronic devices. Police are also probing whether the gambling operation had wider links or was being organised regularly at the same location.

The raid was led by Police Inspector A J Chauhan of the SMC. Officials said such operations would continue to curb illegal gambling activities across the state.