In Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh, two constables of the Banda police station Praveen Jat and Devendra Singh were caught running a gambling ring out of a residence they rented in the city’s Sanjay Nagar colony.

After a tip off, the police raided the residence under station in-charge Naval Arya and caught 10 gamblers indulging in illegal gambling. The police then summoned the landlord for interrogation who revealed that two policemen were living on rent at his house.

It was discovered during the inquiry into the matter that both aforementioned constables, assigned to the Banda police station, rented the house but never informed their colleagues nor took action against the gambling ring.

Arya informed the higher authorities that the constables were complicit in the operation of the gambling ring. The SP has suspended both the constables immediately in response to the inquiry findings. In addition, the constables are a subject of a departmental inquiry, too. SDOP Shikha Soni has been charged with conducting it.

Talking to the media on the matter, Additional SP Vikram Singh Kushwaha said, “Constables Praveen Jat and Devendra Singh lived in it on rent. Both the constables have been suspended on suspicion of their involvement in the case. A departmental inquiry is being conducted against both the constables. The investigation has been handed over to Banda SDOP Shikha Soni.”

A number of cases of gambling rings being busted have been reported in the past few months. Among them, this case is a unique one in the sense that it ran with the connivance of police constables. Further investigation is expected to reveal if there is involvement of other persons in the case, too.