In Bhuj, police have stepped up their efforts to control gambling activities during the month of Shravan. They conducted a raid at the Regenta Hotel, located opposite Hill Garden, and arrested seven individuals who were found gambling while enjoying an alcohol party. The police seized a total of 15.84 lakh rupees in cash and valuables from the scene.
According to police reports, they received a tip-off from Bhuj Division about illegal gambling taking place in room 404 of the hotel. The raid took place around midnight. Upon entering the room, officers discovered seven men engaged in a game of Ganjifa, a traditional card game. The table was littered with two bottles of expensive foreign whiskey and a pile of cash.
Among those arrested were individuals believed to be current and former officials, sparking speculation and concern within the community. The police have not yet released the names or photographs of the accused, leading to several unanswered questions. For instance, there were four glasses on the table, but only two individuals were found to be intoxicated. Did the others arrive without their cars? Who rented the room? Police have not provided details regarding these inquiries.
The individuals arrested include Kirat Rameshbhai Patel (60), Chandrakant Jadavji Patel (65), Jayendrasinh Mithubha Zala (54), Chirag Baldevbhai Dodiya (40), Sanjay Pravinbhai Patel (40), Narendra Arvindbhai Bhadra (34), and Arvindkumar Chaturbhuj Gor (68). The police also confiscated 1.14 lakh rupees in cash from the gambling table and personal searches of the gamblers revealed an additional 1 lakh rupees. In addition, eight mobile phones worth approximately 4.70 lakh rupees and a 10 lakh rupee Volkswagen car belonging to Chirag Dodiya were also seized.
During the raid, it was revealed that Kirat Patel and Jayendrasinh Zala were the two individuals found to be intoxicated, with police recovering two bottles of foreign whiskey valued at 24,000 rupees, which were reportedly brought by Zala. As a result, the police have registered separate charges against both for violating alcohol prohibition laws.
The lack of a press release with photographs of the accused has led to further questions about the police’s handling of the situation. This incident has raised concerns about law and order in Bhuj, with residents questioning the transparency of police operations. Attempts to contact PI Alpesh Patel of Bhuj Division for comments on the matter were unsuccessful.
The raid highlights ongoing issues with illegal gambling and alcohol consumption in the region, prompting calls for more rigorous law enforcement and community awareness to address these problems effectively. As Bhuj continues to grapple with such high-profile cases, local authorities are under pressure to ensure the safety and integrity of the community.