<p>Diwali time gambling involving lakhs of rupees in stakes appears to be on an upswing in the city despite the law-enforcers’ best efforts to keep tabs.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In south, north and south-west areas, the upscale farm houses and restaurants are serving as makeshift gambling dens where card players spend days and nights without interruption.<br /><br />Sunita Bamrara, vice president of the Resident Welfare Association of Mehrauli, said: “Executives from the hospitality sector, politicians and builders are organising gambling parties in farmhouses and residential areas.”<br /><br />Bamrara said: “A number of farmhouse, pub, and discotheque owners are renting out their premises to gamblers on hourly basis.”<br /><br />Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West Delhi) Suman Goyal said around Diwali there tends to be a spur in gambling, but strict measures have been taken to curb it.<br /><br />“Special police teams have been formed across the city to run a drive to prevent gambling,” she said.<br /><br />Hideouts being raided<br /><br />“In my district, I have told officials to deal with such illegal activities strictly. We are raiding hideouts and checking history-sheeters who have been involved in organised gambling,” added Goyal.<br /><br />Sources said an hotel with a rooftop dancing floor on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road and a farmhouse near Mehrauli village are charging for reserving gambling spaces against advance money ranging from Rs 6,000-10,000.<br /><br />“A daily entry fee of Rs 2,000 per gambler is also being charged for entering into suites that can accommodates up to 25 people,” said a Mahipalpur resident. To avoid any trouble during checks, the gamblers are also employing money-less methods for accepting bets.<br /><br />“No currency would be visible on the gambling table. Rather, the play would go on through “counters” (plastic coins), having different values,” said a private restaurant employee, who did not wish to be named.<br /><br />As per the sources, gambling starts at least a month before Diwali and during the entire season transactions worth crores of rupees take place. Women’s kitty parties also used for big-time gambling by players from high-heeled families.<br /><br />“Such all-women parties are usually held at the home of any of the member of the group,” said a businesswoman from Vasant Kunj, who did not wish to be named. </p>
<p>Diwali time gambling involving lakhs of rupees in stakes appears to be on an upswing in the city despite the law-enforcers’ best efforts to keep tabs.<br /><br /></p>.<p>In south, north and south-west areas, the upscale farm houses and restaurants are serving as makeshift gambling dens where card players spend days and nights without interruption.<br /><br />Sunita Bamrara, vice president of the Resident Welfare Association of Mehrauli, said: “Executives from the hospitality sector, politicians and builders are organising gambling parties in farmhouses and residential areas.”<br /><br />Bamrara said: “A number of farmhouse, pub, and discotheque owners are renting out their premises to gamblers on hourly basis.”<br /><br />Deputy Commissioner of Police (South-West Delhi) Suman Goyal said around Diwali there tends to be a spur in gambling, but strict measures have been taken to curb it.<br /><br />“Special police teams have been formed across the city to run a drive to prevent gambling,” she said.<br /><br />Hideouts being raided<br /><br />“In my district, I have told officials to deal with such illegal activities strictly. We are raiding hideouts and checking history-sheeters who have been involved in organised gambling,” added Goyal.<br /><br />Sources said an hotel with a rooftop dancing floor on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road and a farmhouse near Mehrauli village are charging for reserving gambling spaces against advance money ranging from Rs 6,000-10,000.<br /><br />“A daily entry fee of Rs 2,000 per gambler is also being charged for entering into suites that can accommodates up to 25 people,” said a Mahipalpur resident. To avoid any trouble during checks, the gamblers are also employing money-less methods for accepting bets.<br /><br />“No currency would be visible on the gambling table. Rather, the play would go on through “counters” (plastic coins), having different values,” said a private restaurant employee, who did not wish to be named.<br /><br />As per the sources, gambling starts at least a month before Diwali and during the entire season transactions worth crores of rupees take place. Women’s kitty parties also used for big-time gambling by players from high-heeled families.<br /><br />“Such all-women parties are usually held at the home of any of the member of the group,” said a businesswoman from Vasant Kunj, who did not wish to be named. </p>
