LVR & Sons Club, which has been subjected to frequent police checks in recent times on allegations of allowing gambling, is in for some serious trouble.
This is the only club that has taken on the might of police, who have forced other clubs in the district to close shop, following a State-wide crackdown on gambling clubs following the suicide of a man at Country Club in Hyderabad recently.
The issue has taken a new dimension following seizure of over Rs.1 lakh during routine police checks at LVR Club a few days ago.
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The Police are bracing to lodge criminal cases under the I.T Act.
In the backdrop of the issue, police turned the heat on Monday and forces led by station house officer T. Seetharamaiah swarmed the premises by afternoon fuelling speculations of an imminent arrest of club office-bearers. But the cops tactically retreated and refrained from taking any action.
Even as cops and the club members played a cat and mouse game, the club hurriedly organised a press conference where the members declared that they have decided to suspend gambling for four days keeping in mind the “cordial relationship they had with policemen.''
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Though gambling is banned as per law, most clubs have been citing a High Court order which has allowed ‘rummy,' in recreation clubs. Though transaction in cash is banned, members could buy tokens and play the game of cards. Most of the clubs follow 80 points system (full count). The wager for one point could range anything between Rs. 100- Rs.10,000. If the wager is Rs. 100 for one point the person making full count would get (Rs.100 X 80 = Rs 8,000). Depending on the stakes, members could choose opt to be part of deluxe clubs where stakes are much higher.
The LVR Club, established in 1898, as a recreational and cultural centre, had its share of trouble in recent years. Superintendents of Police in the past had tried in vain to end gambling. Rajiv Trivedi, the then S.P, event went to the extent of parading the members on the road all the way to Arundelpet Police Station. Mahesh Chandra Laddha, S.B Bagchi, previous SPs, too turned the heat by subjecting the members to vehicular checks and breadth analysers.