Managements of clubs told to preserve CCTV footage: Hyderabad High Court

Hyderabad: The judge directed the managements to preserve the footage for at least a fortnight so that the police can check the footage. The judge said the police were entitled to enter the premises of the petitioner clubs for taking action as per law in the event of any violation of the law, and the petitioners shall not cause any hindrance to the police in exercising their statutory powers.

The judge made it clear that any deviation of the guidelines by the petitioner clubs would be construed as violation of these orders. The petitioner clubs were Friends Cultural and Sports Society, New Royal Derby Cultural Sports Club, Greater Family Club, Elite Recreations and Resorts (P) Limited, Megan Sports & Cultural Club, Family World Club, Soni Sports Cultural Welfare & Association, GVR Family Club, Chiran Fort Club, Malakpet City Centre, Srinagar Colony Recreation Club, all in Hyderabad, and the Jagtial Club in Karimnagar district.

When contacted, the management of GVR Family Club said many managements had installed CCTV cameras in card rooms. Linking them with the local police stations would be taken up after receiving a copy of the judgement. Many clubs have closed their card rooms as the Telangana state government had announced that it would ban playing of cards, an official the management of a petitioner club said.