Delhi Police bust illegal gambling den in Shahdara, arrest 13 and seize ₹2.01 lakh cash
Synopsis
A pre-dawn raid by Delhi Police's Special Staff in Shahdara netted 13 alleged gamblers and over ₹2 lakh in cash, along with 2,100 poker chips each reportedly worth ₹1,000. The suspects, drawn from across Delhi and Ghaziabad, now face charges under the Delhi Public Gambling Act in what police say is part of a sustained crackdown on illegal gambling in the district.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested 13 people in a raid on an illegal gambling den in Shahdara district at 3:20 am on 10 October 2026 .
Seized items include ₹2,01,000 in cash, 416 playing cards , and 2,100 poker tokens/chips , each allegedly valued at ₹1,000 .
All accused booked under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Delhi Public Gambling Act in FIR No.
Accused hail from multiple localities including Laxmi Nagar , Anand Vihar , Krishna Nagar , and Ghaziabad .
Investigation is ongoing under DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena to ascertain the full scope of the gambling network.
Delhi Police on 10 October 2026 busted an illegal gambling racket in Shahdara district, arresting 13 people and seizing ₹2,01,000 in cash, 416 playing cards, and 2,100 poker tokens and chips — each reportedly valued at ₹1,000 — in an early-morning raid conducted at 3:20 am IST.
How the Raid Unfolded
The Special Staff of Shahdara District received specific intelligence on 10 October about alleged illegal gambling at a premises in the area. A dedicated raiding team, comprising Sub-inspectors Subash and Vishal Rana, and Head Constables Ravi, Paramvir, and Rajender, was swiftly mobilised. Upon reaching the location in the early hours, they found 13 individuals allegedly engaged in gambling using playing cards, cash, and poker chips.
Who Was Arrested
Those apprehended include Rajesh Oberoi, 37, of Ram Vihar; Amrik Singh alias Lucky, 33, of Radhe Shyam Park Extension; Shubham, 29, of Uttaranchal Vihar in Ghaziabad; Sohail, 38, of Old Govindpura in Jagatpuri; and Gurpreet Singh, 28, of Hargobind Enclave in Anand Vihar. Also arrested were Rajeev Kumar Verma, 49, of Madhu Vihar; Vimal Kumar, 42, of Krishna Nagar; Laksay Sharma, 25, of Sunny Enclave in Anand Vihar; Pradeep Kumar, 40, of Ganesh Nagar; Omprakash, 56, of Laxmi Nagar; Mahender, 46, of Guru Ramdas Nagar in Laxmi Nagar; Puneet Kumar, 47, of Laxmi Nagar; and Samardeep Singh, 46, of Pandav Nagar. The group spans multiple Delhi localities as well as neighbouring Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh.
Charges and Legal Action
All 13 accused have been booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Delhi Public Gambling Act in FIR No. 355/2026, registered on 10 October. The case is being supervised by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Rajendra Prasad Meena, according to an official statement. Further investigation is underway to establish the full facts and uncover any broader network behind the alleged gambling operations.
What the Police Said
In a statement, the Shahdara district police reaffirmed their commitment to sustained enforcement action against illegal gambling and other unlawful activities. 'Special drives and intelligence-based operations will continue to maintain public order and ensure strict enforcement of the law,' the statement noted. This operation reflects a broader pattern of targeted crackdowns on gambling dens across Delhi, particularly in east and northeast districts where such activity has reportedly been on the radar of local police for some time.
Point of View
But the geographic spread of the 13 accused — spanning east Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Anand Vihar — suggests an organised network rather than a neighbourhood game. The value embedded in 2,100 poker chips at ₹1,000 each points to stakes far exceeding the cash seized, raising questions about the full financial scale of the operation. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is the enforcement gap: the Delhi Public Gambling Act dates to the colonial era and carries modest penalties, meaning repeat offenders often cycle back quickly. Without a wider probe into the organiser and financial chain, isolated raids risk being performative rather than disruptive.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Delhi Police gambling raid in Shahdara?
Delhi Police's Special Staff raided an illegal gambling den in Shahdara district in the early hours of 10 October 2026 and arrested 13 people. Police seized ₹2,01,000 in cash, 416 playing cards, and 2,100 poker chips, each allegedly worth ₹1,000.
Who were arrested in the Shahdara gambling raid?
The 13 arrested include Rajesh Oberoi, Amrik Singh alias Lucky, Shubham, Sohail, Gurpreet Singh, Rajeev Kumar Verma, Vimal Kumar, Laksay Sharma, Pradeep Kumar, Omprakash, Mahender, Puneet Kumar, and Samardeep Singh — residents of various Delhi localities and Ghaziabad.
What charges have been filed against the accused?
All 13 accused have been booked under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Delhi Public Gambling Act in FIR No. 355/2026, registered on 10 October 2026. Further investigation is ongoing.
What was the value of the poker chips seized in the raid?
Police seized 2,100 poker tokens and chips during the raid. Each chip was reportedly valued at ₹1,000, implying a total notional value of ₹21 lakh from the chips alone, in addition to ₹2,01,000 in cash.
What is the Delhi Public Gambling Act?
The Delhi Public Gambling Act is the law governing and penalising illegal gambling activities in Delhi. Sections 3, 4, and 5 — under which the accused have been charged — pertain to running, visiting, and being found in a common gaming house.
