Matka den flourishes at Gadi Adda, Khadki

Khadki police unaware of gambling den operating right under their noses, a kilometer away from the chowky

An illegal matka den has been operating at Gadi Adda, Khadki, behind the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) workers’ quarters on Datta Ghat. The gambling den has been running openly for a couple of months from a tin structure built illegally on KCB land, just a kilometre away from the Khadki police chowky. It is alleged that the Khadki police ‘have lost control’ over such matka dens and are unable to prevent them from operating openly in the board jurisdiction.

Locals say that such activities cannot be carried out without the covert support of the police, politicians and Cantonment officials. “The gambling joint functions from 9.00 am to 12.00 pm, from a 10×20 foot tin shed. The structure has been illegally constructed on the Board land and is rented illegally to the matka den kingpin by a local person. A local goon and the kingpin have been running the den in partnership for a couple of months,” said a source in the KCB.

“Many people including those with criminal backgrounds, liquor addicts and nuisance-makers visit the matka den daily, making the area unsafe for others. They park their vehicles on the main road, causing problems for visitors to the Mahadev temple, and are found sitting there in groups consuming liquor. There could be couple of such illegal matka dens in the KCB limits, attracting youths and others to take part in illegal activities,” said a resident.

Confirming the news, KCB Chief Executive officer (CEO) Amol Jagtap said, “There are illegal activities carried out in the illegal structures behind the KCB workers’ quarters. There are more than thirty illegal structures built on KCB land, which will be uprooted soon. We have asked for police protection to demolish the structures, but the Khadki police station officials told that it would not possible at this time due to the Ganpati festival. Actions against these structures will be taken under police protection after the Ganpati festival.”

Khadki police station Police Inspector Suhas Bhosale said, “I am unaware about any illegal activity going in Gadi Adda, and about any request by the KCB officials seeking police protection to demolish the illegal structure. I don’t know about the matka den and will look into the matter after visiting the spot. Show me the place where the gambling den is. Even if there is any gambling den functioning, no action can be taken now due to the Ganpati festival. Probe will be conducted after two days.”

vicky.pathare@goldensparrow. com

Originally published on The Golden Sparrow