Ganesh Mandal set up stalls for gambling

Navi Mumbai:With the connivance of local police, a Ganesh Mandal has set up stalls for gambling under the pretext of holding a fair at Koparkhairane. In this context, the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) informed that the said Mandal has set up such stalls without taking permission; but he did not elaborate on what action was proposed to be taken in the matter.

In the surrounding area of Police Commissioner’s office in Navi Mumbai, at 5 places, fairs have been held during Ganesh festival. Out of them, only one Mandal from Turbhe has taken permission to hold the fair and at other places, with the help of local police, not only fairs have been held without taking necessary permission but stalls have also been set up for gambling. Moreover, these Mandals have been provided police protection. A member of a political party is an office bearer of one of the Mandals. Different types of games like ‘Skill of game’, ‘Ping-Pong’ etc. are played by staking money. Along with men, even children are falling prey to such games. The police, who are on duty, are ignoring such activities. Even the ACP did not show interest in taking any action against the wrong-doers when the Sanatan Prabhat’s reporter contacted him nor was he shown a copy of rules and regulations stipulated for granting permission to hold such fairs.