Nine businessmen sent to jail for gambling in 2011 by a Mumbai court

A Mumbai court has convicted nine businessmen under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act and sent them to prison for six months while also imposing Rs 2,000 fine each. The magistrate court magistrate AV Kulkarni refused to let the accused go on a bond of good behaviour and instead sentenced them.

On having received a tip off in 2011 about some people playing rummy (knock out) in Taj President Hotel, now retired ACP Vasant Dhoble and his team had raided the hotel and recovered Rs 3.25 lakh from the accused in the room.

Businessmen Ashwin Bhansali and Sandeep Chalke had stayed in the 6th floor room of the hotel on August 27, 2011 and businessmen Naresh Yeldi, Suresh Sabula, Ketan Shah, Shravan Jain, Ramesh Rathod, Manoj Jasani and Raj Phad were present as participants.

The hotel room was used as a "common gaming house" and booked by Bhansali and Chalke. The Police had seized money from each individual, which ranged from Ra 1.20 lakh from one accused to Rs 270 from another accused.

The police also found two sets of playing cards upon the table, a note book containing entries. The FIR was registered at Cuffe Parade Police Station.

In court, during the trial, the accused businessmen pleaded not guilty. During the trial, the prosecution examined five witnesses, including policemen and a panch. Advocates for the businessmen had submitted before the court that the police had simply filed the chargesheet and had not recorded the statement of the hotel manager and there were no independent witnesses.

The judge, while sentencing the accused businessmen said, "It is a fact that very few matters reach the conclusion that is in favour of the prosecution. The accused booked a room in a five-star hotel for the purpose of gambling. A huge amount was recovered at the instance of the accused in the year 2011. Considering this background, I am of the view that six months imprisonment along with a fine of Rs. 2,000 will suffice the purpose."