Hours after an AIADMK MLA lamented about recreation clubs having turned into gambling dens in his constituency, police conducted simultaneous raids at 18 recreation clubs in the city and arrested 407 persons on Wednesday night.
They also seized Rs 9.54 lakh cash from the gamblers. Special teams were formed following a tip-off that people were allegedly indulging in gambling in the recreation clubs situated in Pondy Bazaar, Mambalam, Vadapalani and Virugambakkam areas.
Subsequent checks confirmed these suspicions.
“The raids were conducted in 18 places and 24 cases were registered”, said Joint Commissioner of Police (South), Mr Shanmugarajeshwaran. Such raids will continue if we receive any further complaints, he said.
“The police is not ready to soften its stand against these clubs and orders have been given to all deputy commissioners to come down hard on them,” said another senior police official.
In T Nagar, considered to be the hub for gambling activities, police conducted raids in 16 places and arrested the gamblers, he said.
AIADMK MLA V. Kalairajan, on Wednesday, urged the state government to shut down the gambling dens in the area.
“Despite repeated requests, the previous DMK regime did not take any action against the casinos. But chief minister J. Jayalalithaa ordered the police to initiate action against the gambling houses. With the orders of the city police commissioner, J.K. Tripathy, the police raided the areas,” said Mr Kalairajan as he participated in the discussion on the revised budget for 2011-12 in the State Assembly.
Madurai gang
* Madurai rural police on Thursday arrested a four-member gang running a mobile gambling den and seized cash and jewels.
* Cops seized Rs 21.92 lakh, 72 sovereigns of gold, four deposits each worth Rs 2.5 lakh and an SUV.