27 held as police raid three gambling dens in Maharashtra

Police apprehended 27 people for alleged gambling and seized cash, mobile phones and vehicles worth Rs 17.84 lakh during raids at three locations in Maharashtra's Latur district, officials said.

Police also launched a "Khabar" helpline for people to report illegal businesses and gambling activities.

A special team from the Nanded police range, as part of a drive to curb illegal activities, raided a premises near a restaurant in the Shivajinagar police station limits on Tuesday. The team found a matka betting operation in progress and detained six people, seizing cash amounting to Rs 12,610 and three mobile phones worth Rs 19,000, a police release said on Wednesday.

Police also raided a premises near the New Renapur Naka area in the Vivekanand Chowk police station limits and detained nine people allegedly involved in a betting operation, seizing Rs 19,350 in cash and five mobile phones worth Rs 42,000, the release said.

The third raid was conducted at a farm in the Ahmedpur police station area, where police detained 12 people allegedly involved in gambling and seized Rs 37,320 in cash, 12 mobile phones, two cars and five motorcycles worth Rs 16.91 lakh, it added.