Hyderabad: At the heart of Reddy Colony, Jayanagar and Subramanian Colony in Saidabad are three “recreation clubs” that are dens of gambling.
The club’s patrons range from autorickshaw drivers to small-scale businessmen. Around 1,000 families, living around these gambling dens, are fed up with the clubs’ activities.
The clubs were shut for three months prior to the elections but have now reopened, and goons have been appointed by the club management to handle the protesting public, say residents. In the past one year, there has not been a single raid.
Pavan Kumar, a resident of Champapet and representative of the 1,000 families said, “Per day, close to three lakh transactions take place. The club serves free food to encourage customers even if they lose. Earlier, a woman police official had controlled the activities after several requests; However, it is now back to square one. The managements have appointed goons to handle the public. Several mahila teams have also protested against the clubs, but nothing has happened. Even on a working day, each club serves 1,000 customers. Women and children are the worst affected by these activities.”
There have also been complaints regarding gambling dens opposite Gandhi Medical College, Koti, at Lower Tank Bund, Bowenpally and Langer Houz.
As per guidelines, recreation clubs should conduct activities that relieve stress and as long as the games conducted are not illegal, the police cannot do anything.
The city police says that the offenders get away by paying heavy fines or by approaching the court for no objection letters. They add that for conducting raids, the police needs the consent of a high-level DGP or commissioner.
Seize Gambling Houses, says Police
“Gambling falls under special and local laws. Families are destroyed due to the habit. Many undergo financial losses, but the local law does not commensurate social anguish with the punishment. In case of gambling, the law says that the accused will be fined,” says a senior police official.
“Earlier, when the law was enacted, the activity (gambling) wasn’t that rampant. The Constitution has to bring in changes in the law itself with severe punishment to curb the menace. As per the current law, only the customer and organisers are arrested and then let off after payment of fines, or they escape through court orders. However, gambling houses are never seized and these are encouraged by higher ups through haftas,” he said.
