Fourteen businessmen from Bikaner, Rajasthan, were apprehended in a high-profile gambling raid at a well-known hotel in Zirakpur, Punjab. Punjab Police's anti-crime team conducted the raid following a tip-off, seizing ₹25.30 lakh in cash, 13 mobile phones, and 6 luxury cars from the scene.
This sensational revelation has caused a stir in the police forces of both states. The accused are reportedly businessmen who had arrived in Zirakpur from Bikaner under the guise of a ‘business trip,’ but their true intention was to gamble.
How was the raid uncovered?
According to Punjab Police, they had received information for some time that a five-star hotel in Zirakpur was frequently hosting gambling sessions involving individuals from other states. Acting on a tip from an informant, police raided the hotel around 11 pm on Saturday. The accused were found gambling in a private hall, surrounded by fancy tables, chips, cards, and alcohol bottles.
Items Seized:
The items seized by the police included:
- ₹25,30,000 in cash
- 13 high-end mobile phones
- 6 luxury vehicles (Fortuner, BMW, Innova, etc.)
- 2 laptops and a register detailing the wins and losses of the gamblers.
Who was arrested?
Of the 14 arrested individuals, most hail from the Kotgate, Gangashahar, and Karni Nagar areas of Bikaner city. Their ages range from 28 to 50 years, and most are involved in plastics, textiles, jewelry, or the hospitality industry. Bikaner residents Mukhtar Ali (42), Anshul Agarwal (36), Vijay Soni (45), and Faraz Khan (33) are reportedly the main organizers who arranged the gambling session.
Police stated that these businessmen had been running similar gambling clubs in various cities for the past two years, disguising their activities as a ‘private gaming club.’
What happens next?
According to Zirakpur police station SHO Harpreet Singh, cases have been registered against all the accused under the Gambling Act and various sections of the IPC. The accused will be produced in court and remanded to uncover their network. Police are now scrutinizing their bank transactions, call details, and the hotel's CCTV footage to determine the frequency and locations of these gambling sessions.
Rajasthan Police on Alert
Since most of the accused are from Bikaner, Rajasthan Police has also been informed. A senior police officer from Bikaner stated that they are requesting a copy of the case from Punjab Police. If the accused have been involved in criminal activities in the district before, separate action will be taken at the local level.
Locals and social organizations have questioned the hotel management about how a gambling den was allowed to operate in the hotel without proper identification and permission. Zirakpur councilor Manoj Gupta has demanded that action be taken to revoke the hotel's license.
