Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh: History-sheeter Sohail Khan, who had been wanted in connection with the violent clash and stone-pelting in Bilaspur's Khaparganj area, surrendered before police on Tuesday night. He was taken into custody and questioned by the police.Khan has denied involvement in the violence, claiming that he was not present at the spot when the incident took place. He alleged that he was being falsely implicated and demanded a fair and impartial investigation. He also claimed that he had earlier been implicated in a suicide-related case.The violence took place on August 28 in the City Kotwali police station area after a dispute between two groups escalated into a clash and stone-pelting. Police intervened after the situation worsened, and personnel were also targeted with stones. Tarbahar TI Ravi Tiwari was among the police personnel injured in the incident. Local reports put the number of injured police personnel at nine.Police have since intensified searches for those allegedly involved in the violence. CCTV footage is being examined to identify additional suspects, while teams have been conducting searches at possible hideouts.According to the latest reports, 12 accused have now been arrested in connection with the case. Police had earlier arrested 11 people from both sides before Khan surrendered. Three of his alleged associates were also taken into custody from the Lalkhadar area, according to local reports.Another key accused, identified in police-related reports as Thakur Ram Singh, is still reported to be absconding. Police are continuing efforts to locate him and other suspects.The dispute is reported to have followed a controversy involving a social-media comment and an earlier dispute between the groups. Police used tear gas and force to bring the situation under control after the stone-pelting intensified.Security has been strengthened in the affected area amid continuing tension. Police have appealed for calm while the investigation continues.Sohail Khan's actual role in the August 28 violence remains a matter for investigation. His claim that he was not present at the scene is an allegation made by him and has not been established by the investigation or a court.

The Chhattisgarh High Court has questioned the investigation process followed by Bilaspur Police in an NDPS case involving the alleged seizure of 2,925 clonazepam tablets from a woman's house in Sarkanda. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal questioned how the police officer who recorded the initial complaint and was involved in registration of the FIR could subsequently be appointed as the investigating officer in the same case. The court has sought a response from the Director General of Police through an affidavit, with the matter scheduled to come up again on August 24.

The case relates to a police raid at a house in Bandhwapara, under Sarkanda police station, where officers claimed to have recovered 2,925 clonazepam tablets, identified in the case as the drug sold under the brand name Rivotril. The woman was booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and has reportedly remained in custody for around seven months. Her family has disputed the prosecution's version and alleged that she was falsely implicated. Her brother has specifically alleged a conspiracy involving Sarkanda Police, the woman's brother-in-law Ramkishore and ASI Shailendra Singh. These allegations have not been independently established. According to the petitioners, the packet containing the tablets was not recovered directly from the woman. They claim that a child, aged around 14, found the packet on the terrace while flying a kite and, after checking information about the medicines on a mobile phone, informed his mother. The family says the packet was subsequently kept near the staircase as an unwanted object before police action was taken. The petitioners have sought an investigation into how the packet reached the terrace, where it came from and the circumstances in which the woman was arrested. They have also sought forensic examination of the child's mobile phone.

Court Questions Investigation

During the hearing, the division bench focused on the role of ASI Shailendra Singh in the case. The petitioners told the court that the officer had recorded the initial dehati nalishi, on the basis of which the FIR was registered, and was subsequently entrusted with the investigation. The same officer is also stated to have completed the investigation and filed the charge sheet against the woman. The court questioned the propriety of this arrangement and sought an explanation from the DGP. The bench has also directed that information concerning the past conduct and service record of ASI Shailendra Singh be placed before it.

The petitioners have raised another concern regarding the treatment of the minor who allegedly found the packet. They told the court that no FIR had been registered against the child, yet police allegedly took him to the station and kept him there for around 10 hours. They have sought an impartial examination of the entire episode, including the alleged recovery, the source of the tablets and the role of the people involved in the case. The court's order to seek an affidavit from the DGP means the police will now have to explain the procedure followed in the investigation and address the questions raised by the bench. The next hearing on August 24 is expected to provide further clarity on the court's concerns and the response from the police administration.

The new guidelines have been issued to police units across the Bilaspur Range, directing officers to identify, monitor and take strict legal action against history-sheeters, repeat offenders and individuals whose activities frequently disturb public order. The move is part of a broader effort to enhance preventive policing and maintain law and order in the region.

According to police officials, the SOP lays emphasis on regular verification of records related to habitual criminals, timely execution of pending warrants, surveillance of identified offenders and effective use of preventive provisions available under the law. Station House Officers (SHOs) have also been instructed to periodically review the status of listed offenders within their respective jurisdictions.

Inspector General Sanjeev Garg said the objective is to create a uniform policing mechanism that allows officers to respond swiftly to emerging criminal activities while ensuring accountability at every level. He stressed that crime prevention should remain the primary focus rather than merely reacting after offences have been committed.

Police officials have also been directed to strengthen intelligence gathering at the local level. Beat constables and field officers will be expected to maintain updated information on criminal elements operating within their areas, enabling faster intervention whenever suspicious activities are reported.

The revised operating procedure also focuses on closer coordination between police stations and district-level supervisory officers. Regular monitoring meetings and performance reviews are expected to be held to assess implementation of the new measures and identify areas requiring additional attention.

Officials believe the system will help improve tracking of repeat offenders who often relocate between police station limits to avoid detection. Better sharing of information among investigating officers is expected to reduce delays in enforcement and improve follow-up action in pending cases.

The Bilaspur Range covers several districts where police have been working to curb organised criminal activities, property-related offences and repeat violent crimes. Authorities say a structured operating framework will help standardise procedures across districts and minimise inconsistencies in policing practices.

The latest instructions also underline the importance of community policing. Officers have been asked to maintain communication with local residents and gather inputs that could assist in identifying emerging criminal networks or individuals attempting to resume illegal activities after previous arrests.

Senior police officials maintain that the new SOP is not intended solely to increase arrests but to build a more proactive policing model focused on deterrence, surveillance and timely intervention. By strengthening monitoring mechanisms, the department hopes to reduce opportunities for repeat offences and improve public confidence in law enforcement.

The Bilaspur Police's latest initiative comes amid continued efforts by the Chhattisgarh Police to modernise policing practices and adopt more data-driven approaches to crime management. The effectiveness of the new SOP will be assessed through periodic reviews as authorities monitor its impact on overall crime trends across the Bilaspur Range.

The Bilaspur Breakthrough

In a significant strike against the growing menace of online gambling in Chhattisgarh, the Bilaspur Police on Friday arrested two wanted bookies — Rajesh alias Raja Bajaj and his associate Pradeep Khatri — from a hotel room in Raipur, where the duo had been running an illegal online betting operation through the 'Ricky Panel' gaming platform. The arrests come after months of pursuit by the Anti Cyber and Crime Unit (ACCU) and the Civil Lines Police team.

What Was Seized

Acting on confirmed intelligence, police raided the hotel and recovered assets valued at approximately Rs 45 lakh. The seizure included Rs 6.90 lakh in cash, three luxury cars — a Honda City, Maruti Brezza, and Maruti Swift Dzire — expensive mobile phones, laptops, five bank passbooks, five chequebooks, a Honda Activa, and two registers containing detailed accounts of betting transactions running into lakhs of rupees. Documents related to more than ten bank accounts showing crores in suspicious transactions were also recovered and are currently under financial scrutiny.

Hotel Room as Headquarters

According to police sources, Raja Bajaj had booked the hotel room in a woman's name to avoid detection — a detail that emerged only after officers checked the hotel's register during the raid. Inside, both accused were found actively operating the online platform. The room yielded a full operational setup, complete with betting ledgers, SIM cards, and digital devices used to manage client accounts and wagers across the country.

How the Ricky Panel Operated

Investigations revealed that the accused ran their betting network through the Ricky Panel, through which clients were offered access to games including Aviator, Wingo, Casino, and Horse Racing — all carrying real-money stakes. Customers were recruited via Telegram channels, while WhatsApp numbers were used to share betting links. The profit-sharing arrangement was fixed: 65 per cent to the head office and 35 per cent to local operators.

The network was pan-India in scale, with agents on the ground across multiple states bringing in new customers and handling cash flows through a layered system of fake SIM cards and third-party bank accounts. Ordinary individuals were reportedly offered commissions to lend their bank accounts, which were then used to route betting money and launder proceeds.

A Trail Going Back to December

The chain of arrests traces back to 21 December 2024, when police nabbed a bookie named Manoj Poptani from Hemunagarar in Torwa, Bilaspur. During his interrogation, Poptani disclosed that he had been operating in coordination with Raja Bajaj and Pradeep Khatri. That disclosure set off months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, with Bilaspur Police placing a reward of Rs 5,000 on Bajaj's head after he went into hiding and kept changing locations to evade arrest.

Financial Investigation Launched

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajnesh Singh confirmed that for the first time in Bilaspur, a formal financial investigation has been initiated against a bookie. "A property worth approximately Rs 50 lakh in the accused's name has already been identified," he said, adding that further assets are being mapped for attachment. According to officials, the probe will cover the accused's complete income and expenditure trail to build an end-to-end case under asset recovery provisions.

Police Signal Harder Action

SSP Rajnesh Singh stated that the department's campaign against those running illegal online betting operations — and looting hard-earned money from ordinary citizens — would continue unabated. "We are now moving towards economic action against these operators. By tracing their financial trail completely, we intend to dismantle these networks at the root," he said, as per official statements.

The case underscores a wider pattern of online gambling syndicates operating across Chhattisgarh under the cover of gaming apps, using shifting locations and fake identities to stay ahead of authorities — a challenge that police say they are increasingly equipped to meet.