Nagpur: The notorious gambler Ashok Bawaji alias Ashok Yadav, who dodged raiding cops umpteen times and went absconding, was finally netted in a swoop on a den in Shantinagar area by a squad of Ganeshpeth and Kotwali police. Apart from nabbing the elusive master gambler, the raiding cops seized gambling material worth lakhs. The Monday night raid was ordered by DCP Zone 3 M Rajkumar.
The DCP was on night round in city and received a tip off that the notorious gambler Ashok Bawaji was busy in the “trade” with lakhs exchanging the nasty hands. Acting swiftly on the information, the DCP Rajkumar formed a team of Kotwali and Ganeshpeth police led by Tehsil API Pankaj Bondse. The swooped the gambling den being run in Shantinagar area. As the raid was on, the master gambler Ashok Bawaji and others tried to escape the net but could not. Apart from Bawaji, five more gamblers were arrested and cash and other material worth lakhs was seized.
The arrested accused are:
- Ashok Bawaji alias Ashok Champalal Yaday (42) of Itwari.
- Ashish Shantaram Kuvde (28) of Itwari Telipura.
- Ganesh Shrikrishna Nimje (32) of Deshpande Layout.
- Mohammed Ahmed Haroon Mohammed Aslam (32) of Gandhibagh
- Laxmichand Girdhar Gaekwad (50) of Lalganj.
A few other gamblers managed to escape and are being hunted. The raid was carried out at the gambling den near the residence of Ashok Bawaji situated near Bharatiya Akhada, Bastarwadi, near Itwari Railway Station coming under Shantinagar Police Station. The swoop was made at around 1.30 am on the orders of DCP Zone 3.
The seized material include Rs 34,000 in cash, 4 two-wheelers, 2 four-wheelers, five mobile phones, LCD TV, play cards and other material collectively worth Rs 6.77 lakh.
The arrested gamblers were booked under Sections 4, 5 of Prevention of Gambling Act.
