MCOCA accused among four held for gambling in Nagpur

The High Court on observing that gambling often has a connection with organised crime, the Bombay High Court had upheld invocation of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in April 2020 against some individuals who are arrested during a raid in a gambling racket.

Local Crime Branch of Rural Police arrested four persons, including gangster and MCOCA accused Anil Raut, on gambling charges. The accused have been identified as Anil Bhaiyyaji Raut, a resident of New Bidipeth; Dinesh Vasantrao Choudhary, a resident of Ashirwad Nagar; Vaibhav Pundalik Korge, a resident of New Bidipeth; Sooraj Prasad Gaygawali, a resident of Old Bidipeth.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of LCB raided a place in Takli village in Kuhi police station area and arrested the accused red-handed when they were caught red handed gambling. The police have seized Rs 12,670/- in cash, four mobile phones, seven motorcycles, two four-wheelers including a Fortuner SUV and a Swift car. An offence under Sections 12 of Gambling Act was registered by the police.

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Under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ola, the arrest was made by Police Inspector Anil Jittawar, API Jitendra Wairagade and staff, including Madan Asatkar, Santosh Pandhare, Ramesh Bhoyar, Balaji Sakhre, Radhesham Kamble and Bhaurao Khandate.

The High Court stated, “Though the gambling by itself may not be an organized crime, however, an organized crime syndicate may take recourse to it as one of its profit making ventures. It may support contract killing, abduction or dacoity or other similar offences along with gambling,” the court said.

The court, while dismissing previous petitions in April also stated that If the existence of an organized crime syndicate comes to the knowledge of the State on the conducted gambling raid and the investigation shows two or more charges based on similar offences. The accused is punishable with imprisonment of three or more years and the police can take recourse to the MCOC Act. For more updates on stories related to gambling, keep reading GutshotMagazine.com