Bantwal:  Police raided an RCC house in Badagabelluru village, Bantwal Taluk, on Dec 17, where an illegal gambling ring was operating. The main suspect, Nishanth, managed to escape, while 33 individuals involved in ‘andar-bahar’ gabling game were apprehended at the scene, police said.

During the raid, officials seized cash amounting to Rs 7,81,420, along with other items used for gambling, including playing cards, three steel tables, ten plastic chairs, and a cloth spread on one of the tables. In total, items worth Rs 7,90,220 were confiscated.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Rajesh (35), Anand D’Souza (46), Chetan (39), Nithin (34), Pushparaj Ballal (52), Noushad (37), Nagesh (36), Abdul Majeed (37), Harish (45), Umesh (52), Vinayak (47), Ajith Kumar (36), Raghavendra (34), Praveen Kumar (58), Chennakeshav (42), Bhaskar (36), Vighnesh (42), Sanketh (35), Pavan Raj (37), Lohith (42), Satish E., Dheeraj Kumar (28), Chidanand (30), Prasad (37), Sandeep (34), Anil Kumar (30), Nithish (21), Satish (36), Mustafa K.P. (33), Arun D’Souza (50), Rohitashwa Poojary (46), Vijeth Kumar (39), and Nikhil (34).

Efforts are underway to trace Nishanth, the absconding accused.

A case has been registered under the directives of the ACJ & JMFC Court, Bantwal, under Case No. 1770/2024.