Daijiworld Media Network - Junagadh
Junagadh, Sep 6: Forty-two people were arrested after the Gujarat Police State Monitoring Cell (SMC) raided an alleged card gambling operation at Suthar Samaj Wadi near Chorwad Girls School in Chorwad, Junagadh district, and seized cash and other property collectively valued at Rs 16.02 lakh, police said on Sunday.
The raid was conducted by a team led by Police Sub-Inspector K D Ravia following directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G S Malik to take legal action against illegal liquor and gambling activities across the state.
According to the SMC, the operation resulted in the seizure of Rs 3,72,200 in cash, one four-wheeler, 11 two-wheelers, 42 mobile phones and gambling-related materials.
The total value of the seized property was assessed at **Rs 16,02,900**.
A case was registered at Chorwad Police Station on September 5 under Sections 4 and 5 of the Gambling Act.
Police said **44 people were named as accused**, including 42 arrested persons and two wanted accused.
Among those arrested were **Manish Parmar and Haresh Chudasama**, whom police identified as alleged organisers of the gambling operation.
The arrested persons included residents of Chorwad and other parts of Junagadh district, as well as individuals from Gir Somnath, Morbi, Kutch and Rajkot.
The two wanted accused were identified as Viren Sevra, a resident of Ramvav Chowk in Chorwad, and Lala of Chorwad.
Police identified Lala as the person who allegedly rented out Sutharwadi for the gambling activity.
Further investigation is underway.
SMC steps up enforcement
The latest raid is part of an ongoing enforcement drive by the State Monitoring Cell against illegal gambling and liquor networks in Gujarat.
In August, the SMC arrested 16 people and seized cash, vehicles and mobile phones collectively valued at around Rs 39 lakh during a gambling raid in Mehsana.
In another gambling operation in Gandhinagar in December last year, the SMC seized cash, **10 mobile phones and five vehicles** worth a total of **Rs 26.16 lakh** and detained 11 people, while six others were declared wanted.
The SMC has also carried out major prohibition-related seizures.
In January, an operation in Navsari led to the seizure of 14,016 bottles of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) valued at Rs 37.62 lakh. A vehicle and other items were also seized, taking the total value of the seizure to Rs 62.69 lakh.