No casino in Gudivada for Sankranti as police act tough

Vijayawada: Casinos and gambling would not be allowed for the Sankranti festival in Gudivada in Krishna district as the police have tightened security to thwart such illegal activities.

Both these had been organised during the last Sankranti, and there was betting of huge amounts allegedly at the behest of the then minister for civil supplies Kodali Venkateswara Rao. The venue, K Convention Centre where the events were held, was owned by him.

As the video clippings of gambling went viral on social media platforms, Telugu Desam slammed the former minister for exposing the city to such a culture. Supporters of the YSR Congress and Telugu Desam clashed when a fact-finding committee of TD leaders arrived at the venue to inspect the premises. Police had intervened to restore normalcy.

Though the former minister denied any role in those events and even vowed to quit politics if his alleged involvement was proven, the inquiry did not move forward. As Rao was divested of his portfolio in the subsequent cabinet reshuffle and he is now just a legislator representing the Gudivada assembly segment, he apparently  played safe this time and avoided a repeat of gambling during the upcoming Sankranti festival.

The Krishna district administration held a review meeting to thwart any unlawful activity in the entire district during the Sankranti period. Police checked the records of those who did such things in the last five years. As many as 810 persons were bound under section 110 of CrPC.

Police teams carried out raids on various places where gambling and cockfights were likely to be held and seized several knives and nearly 2,000 mikes. Krishna district SP Joshua said, “We will deal with such persons very firmly by booking cases.”