In a major crackdown on illegal gambling, police in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol district uncovered a high-profile gambling den operating deep inside a forest, where bets were being placed under the headlights of luxury cars. The operation led to the arrest of seven gamblers, while four others managed to escape. Authorities have registered cases against all 11 accused and launched an intensive search for the absconders.
The action was carried out by Singhpur police station following a tip-off that a group of gamblers from Shahdol, Anuppur and Umaria districts had gathered in the Kerha forest area to run an organised gambling operation. Acting swiftly on the information, police teams conducted a late-night raid and caught several people gambling in the open, illuminated by the headlights of parked high-end vehicles.
How the racket was exposed
According to police officials, the gamblers chose the secluded forest location to avoid detection. Luxury cars were strategically parked to provide light, eliminating the need for other sources that could draw attention. When the police team reached the spot, they found a full-fledged gambling setup in progress, with cards and cash spread out.
Investigators identified Ramji Sharma as the alleged mastermind behind the operation. Police said he coordinated the gathering and managed the gambling activities, drawing participants from neighbouring districts.
Arrests and deception during police action
Those arrested include Dilip Soni, Asif Ali, Rajju Patel alias Rajkumar, Sirajullah Khan, Virendra Mishra, Ajit Vaswani and Rajesh Jethani. During questioning, Rajesh Jethani allegedly tried to mislead the police by giving a false name and incorrect details about his father. Subsequent verification revealed his real identity as Meghraj Gilani, son of Kushal Gilani. Police have added charges for providing false information to obstruct the investigation.
What was seized
From the gambling site, police seized three luxury cars, nine Android mobile phones and ₹27,000 in cash. The total value of the seized property has been estimated at more than ₹40 lakh. Officials believe the scale of the operation indicates that such gambling activities may have been running for some time.
Police statement and ongoing probe
Singhpur Station House Officer M.L. Rahangdale confirmed the details of the operation, stating that the raid was conducted based on credible intelligence. “We registered cases against 11 individuals involved in the gambling racket. Seven have been arrested, and teams are actively searching for the remaining four,” he said.
Police are now examining call records and financial transactions from the seized mobile phones to identify possible links to other gambling networks in the region.
Broader concern
The incident has raised concerns about organised gambling activities operating in remote areas. Police officials said surveillance in forest and rural zones will be increased to prevent similar activities in the future.
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