Pune police arrested seven individuals, including a local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) functionary, Audumbar Kamble, for engaging in illegal gambling activities in the city’s Dhankawadi area on Monday. Following the raid, the BJP’s Pune city unit swiftly expelled Kamble, who served as the secretary of the Parvati unit, to uphold party discipline.
The police operation, conducted on Monday afternoon, targeted a tin-shed room where the group was found playing card games and betting money. The arrested individuals, identified as Audumbar Kamble, Rohan Londhe, Bapu Patole, Sagar Adagale, Yuvraj Suryavanshi, Mangesh Shelar, and Sangram Bhosale, were detained under the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act. Authorities seized cash and mobile phones worth Rs 2.20 lakh during the raid, highlighting the scale of the illegal activity.
A senior police official confirmed that a case has been registered against all seven suspects, with further investigations underway to determine the extent of the gambling operation. The raid has sparked discussions on social media, with some X posts expressing surprise at the involvement of a political figure, while others called for stricter enforcement against illegal gambling.
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BJP city unit president Dheeraj Ghate, speaking to PTI, emphasized the party’s zero-tolerance policy for such conduct. “Kamble was recently appointed as secretary of the Parvati unit. After this incident, he has been expelled,” Ghate stated. He added that the party consistently advises its members to maintain discipline and avoid actions that could damage their reputation or the BJP’s image.
The incident has raised questions about oversight within political organizations and the prevalence of gambling in urban areas. Ghate reiterated that the BJP holds regular meetings to reinforce ethical standards among its functionaries, underscoring that such behavior is unacceptable. As the police probe continues, the case may prompt further scrutiny of local gambling networks and their potential links to influential figures.
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