Patna: City police raided two illegal gaming dens under Pirbahore police station in the state capital on Sunday, and arrested 17 people involved in the unlawful guessing game. However, the alleged mastermind, Mohammed Rashid, managed to escape during the raid.
The police recovered around Rs 2 lakh in cash, two walkie-talkies, multiple ATM cards, gaming coupons, promotional banners, calculators, and card-swiping machines from the gamers’ hideouts. According to police, Rashid operates the racket remotely from Pune, sending out numbers that determine the outcome of the guessing game. City SP (Central) Diksha said that the police received a tip-off about the illegal gaming activities in the Sabzibagh area.
Acting on the information, a team led by Town SDPO Rajesh Ranjan was formed, with Pirbahore SHO Sajjad Gaddi, additional SHO Javed Ahmed, and other officers participating in the operation. “When the team reached their den and conducted a search, 17 peoples were found actively involved in the guessing game. We recovered a passport, walkie-talkie, Rs1.1 lakh in cash, ATM cards, gaming coupons, banners, a calculator, and a swiping machine.
The evidence clearly indicated illegal gaming activity,” the SP said. Upon questioning, Mohammed Saifullah, identified as the operator of the den, revealed that Rashid was the key player, who sends game-deciding numbers from Pune. Based on Saifullah’s statement, police conducted a second raid at Rashid’s residence in the same locality. There, they recovered a daily account register, another walkie-talkie, Rs 89,210 in cash, four live cartridges, and a passport. Rashid, however, managed to flee during the raid. “An FIR has been registered against Rashid for running an organised illegal gaming operation, earning illicit profits, and possessing unauthorised ammunition. Police are conducting raids to apprehend him,” the SP added.
