Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell (SMC) has uncovered what investigators describe as one of the most elaborate illegal gambling setups seen in the state in recent years — a system built around coded cash slips, concealed money, CCTV surveillance of approach lanes, and a membership facade — following a raid on Manpasand Gymkhana in Dariyapur, Ahmedabad on 3 August 2025 that led to the apprehension of 187 people. Five days into the investigation, officials say the operation was far more than an illegal card room.

How the Raid Was Planned

The SMC did not move immediately after receiving the tip-off. According to officials familiar with the investigation, intelligence was verified over roughly 25 to 30 minutes before five teams comprising around 20 to 25 personnel were assembled. Sunday evening was deliberately chosen because the locality is typically crowded, allowing officers to blend in rather than arrive as a visible coordinated police party.

'Teams moved separately through the congested lanes before simultaneously converging on the premises, preventing those inside from fleeing,' an official said. The premises were monitored by CCTV cameras that included feeds covering the approach lane — a setup investigators say was designed to give those inside advance warning of any visitors.

The Coded Slip System

Police say the most striking feature of the alleged operation was not the card games themselves but the financial architecture behind them. Instead of carrying cash to the tables, players reportedly deposited money at a ground-floor office. In return, they received handwritten slips carrying coded values — with two zeroes deliberately omitted. A player depositing ₹5,000, for instance, would receive a slip marked '50'.

Upstairs, across roughly 20 to 22 tables each seating six players, a writer at each table maintained a printed register recording players' names against coded amounts. Every game produced a winner, and the table operator allegedly collected ₹300 per game. Players entered and exited continuously, with balances updated game after game against coded figures — never visible cash.

Investigators believe the arrangement was engineered to create plausible deniability: if police entered, participants could claim they were club members engaged in recreational card games, since no money was visible on the tables. This explains why only around ₹3.30 lakh in cash was recovered despite 187 people being present — and why that cash was not found on the gaming floor but concealed elsewhere on the premises, located only after questioning suspects during the panchnama process.

Digital Money Trail Under Scrutiny

Investigators allege that much of the money trail may have moved beyond physical currency. The probe has expanded to examine UPI transactions and bank accounts to determine the full financial scale of the alleged operation. Officials said one reason for seeking police remand for nine accused — rather than relying on routine bail proceedings under gambling laws — was specifically to trace digital payments and identify accounts allegedly used to handle betting proceeds. The nine, including the principal accused, were remanded to custody until 8 August.

Key Accused and Table Structure

Police allege the operation was anchored by Govind alias Gamo Patel, identified as the director of Manpasand Club and the principal accused. Investigators say the property has three owners, with Patel managing day-to-day operations including memberships and facilities.

According to a senior official, the gambling tables were allegedly rented out to individuals including Kishor Padhiyar, Satish Thakkar, Mulrajsinh alias Mulubha Rana, Dinesh Bhavsar, Anand Thakor, Laxman Parmar, Sattar Vora, Hussain Sipai, and Salim Mansuri. Each table reportedly fetched rent of around ₹12,000 to ₹15,000, with operators running their own networks of regular gamblers. Officials said attendees travelled from as far as Maninagar, Ranip, and Kalol.

Among those apprehended, around 10 to 11 individuals have two or more prior criminal cases registered against them. Investigators have distinguished between alleged organisers and players, with custodial interrogation focused on those suspected of running the operation.

A Venue With a History of Repeat Violations

This was the third major police action at the Dariyapur premises in five years. The SMC had raided the same location in July 2021, apprehending 183 people — after which 18 personnel from the local Dariyapur police station were reportedly suspended over alleged dereliction of duty. The Ahmedabad Crime Branch returned in October 2023, arresting 27 people, including Patel, after investigators said the club had resumed operations. Despite both prior actions, the premises reportedly reopened each time.

All those arrested in the latest case have been booked under provisions of the Gujarat Prevention of Gambling Act, which prohibits operating or managing a common gaming house and authorises police to enter, search, and seize suspected gambling establishments. The investigation is continuing to determine whether additional individuals — including those connected to the property's ownership or its financial proceeds — may have had any role in the alleged operation.