PANAJI
As many as 10 gamblers including Russian and Ukraine nationals were arrested in separate raids conducted by Goa Police's Crime Branch (CB) in the heavily populated tourism belts of Calangute and Pernem. The accused were caught red-handed betting on ‘game of chance’ “ an illegal activity where one gambles money and the win depends on luck rather than skill.
The first raid in a rented apartment at Calangute saw the arrests of five youths from Chhattisgarh, Aman Agarwal, Rakesh Kumar, Sagar Bhagwani, Vishal Kumar and Karam Pakhani. CB SP Nidhin Valsan informed that the accused were engaged in online gambling activity when they were raided. The team seized electronic devices, a router used for internet connection and Rs 3,200 cash in different denominations; all valued at Rs 1.20 lakh.
In the following raid at Mandrem-Pernem where yet another rented apartment was used for the illegal activity, five other accused from Russia, Ukraine, Delhi and Maharashtra were arrested.
The men identified as Prabhat Pingreja from Delhi, Rajiv Dosani of Mumbai, Kirill Khadarin and Nikolei Balandin, both from Russia; and Mykyta Atamanchuk from Ukraine were caught exchanging gaming coins/chips, cash and other articles on “Texas Holdem”, also a form of ‘game of chance.’ The gambling articles, worth Rs 1.21 lakh approx. is seized, Valsan said.
While the accused are booked under various relevant sections of Gambling Act, the CB has intimated the FRRO regarding the arrests of the three foreign nationals, whose case details will further be forwarded to the respective embassies in India.
