DCP (Zone-1) Abhinash Kumar, who had received a tip off on the gambling den, maintaining secrecy over the operation, formed the special squad of policemen drawn from Ambazari, Wadi, Sitabuldi Police Stations keeping the cops from Lakadganj at bay. Ambazari PI Anil Katkade was given responsibility to head the squad.
Nagpur News: In a meticulously planned action, a special squad of policemen drawn from Detection Branch (DB) of Ambazari, Wadi, Sitabuldi Police Stations and headed by Police Inspector Anil Katkade raided a gambling den in Bastarwadi area near Itwari Railway Station in the wee hours of Tuesday. The squad arrested 28 gamblers from the spot and also seized Rs 6.12 lakh in cash and other material worth Rs 7.81 lakh from the den being run by Ashok Yadav alias Babaji. However, Ashok Yadav and his accomplice Raju Kachhi could not be nabbed as both went absconding as soon as the den was raided. Significantly, policemen of Lakadganj Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the den was being run, were not included in the special squad.
The raid was carried out under the directives of DCP (Zone-1) Abhinash Kumar who had received a tip off on the gambling den. The DCP, maintaining secrecy over the operation, formed the special squad of policemen drawn from other police stations keeping the cops from Lakadganj at bay. Ambazari PI Anil Katkade was given responsibility to head the squad.
The gambling den was being run under the very nose of Lakadganj Police Station. Earlier, DB Squad chief of Lakadganj S Bhalerao had raided the gambling den last year. But Ashok Yadav again started his illegal activities as soon as Bhalerao was transferred to some other police station.
Talking to media, the DCP Abhinash Kumar said that he got a tip-off on the gambling and names of persons running the business. Sources informed him that Corporators and some businessmen would visit the den on the intervening night of Monday and Tuesday. Subsequently, the raid was planned on the gambling den situated near Itwari Railway Station without informing Lakadganj police. The special squad succeeded in arresting Devendra Aakre, Ramesh Punekar, Manoj Jain, Ishwar Gour, Dinesh Jain, and other gamblers. Cops also seized two two-wheelers, 27 cell phones, and Rs 6.12 lakh cash from the spot, the DCP said.
However, the mastermind Ashok Yadav and his accomplice Raju Kachhi managed to flee and are absconding. Cops have launched a massive manhunt for both the accused.
