In a bold raid, police in Meerut nabbed the owner and eight others at a three-star hotel. FIRs have been filed against 15 individuals in total. According to the police, a casino operated under the guise of a hotel, attracting the affluent for gambling and parties. The raid, based on a tip-off, was conducted without informing the local police station.
What else was uncovered in this surprising turn of events?
To keep things under wraps, gamblers arrived at the casino empty-handed. They paid the entry fee and settled at gaming tables, later purchasing chips and coins for play. These tokens were credited to their accounts, and settlements were adjusted afterward based on wins and losses.
The operation was entirely cashless, relying exclusively on coins and chips for transactions. Consequently, the raid did not yield significant cash.
Insiders suggest a large table was set up inside the hotel casino, served by girls offering drinks as high rollers placed bets. The club's high threshold entry fee was set at one lakh.
Source: aajtak
Secretive Raid Without Local Police's Knowledge
Upon receiving foolproof information about the casino in the hotel, senior Meerut police officials formed raid teams excluding the three local police station circles. Naunchandi police were only briefed at the eleventh hour. Officials, however, deny any deliberate exclusion, stating they involved all nearby police. During the raid, the Civil Lines CO was absent.
The Hotel Owner's Political Links
The 'Harmony Inn Hotel' is owned by Naveen Arora, who formerly held a position as a city treasurer in BJP. Naveen and several others were reportedly involved in unauthorized casino activities. On Monday night, the casino attracted notable figures from the city and its neighboring districts.
Source: aajtak
When police learned of the operations, they conducted a surprise raid involving three COs from various Meerut circles. The owner Naveen Arora, along with eight others, was arrested on the spot. Girls were found present at the venue, and gambling paraphernalia was seized.
Official Police Statement
Meerut City SP Ayush Vikram stated that cases have been filed against 15 people, and eight arrests have been made. The investigation aims to uncover the source of alcohol, casino operations, visitor profiles, entry logistics, and charges. Given reports of women at the casino, a female CO was included in the team. The casino did not run every day, but only occasionally.
Source: aajtak
Past Controversies Surrounding the Hotel
The 'Harmony Inn Hotel' has faced previous controversies when its original owner, residing in Madhya Pradesh, accused Naveen Arora of fraudulently seizing the hotel. Following the raid, authorities are examining all permissions and permits related to the hotel.
When Naveen Arora was brought to court after his arrest, a crowd of supporters gathered, proactively expressing their dissent with chants. Those arrested, including Naveen Arora, Devendra Sethi, Sanjay Arora, Rajeev Gulati, Rajkumar, Gaurav Kansal, Mohit Tandon, and Rakesh, were presented in court on Tuesday and released on bail.
