Gamblers Attempt To Flush Cash During Police Raid In Odisha’s Sambalpur

The incident came to light after the Dhanupali police carried out a surprise raid at a hotel within their jurisdiction, acting on specific intelligence inputs. Nine persons were caught red-handed while gambling inside a room, with police recovering around Rs 6 lakh in cash along with several mobile phones.

According to police sources, panic broke out the moment the raiding team entered the premises. In an apparent attempt to evade legal action, the accused allegedly threw bundles of currency notes into the toilet and tried to dispose of them. Alert policemen, however, foiled the move and recovered the cash before it could be flushed away.

Preliminary investigations revealed that all nine detained individuals are seasoned gamblers with previous records. The operation was carried out following instructions from the Superintendent of Police, after sustained surveillance helped officers trace the group’s movement and pinpoint their location, police said.

The raid has also brought the hotel’s role under scrutiny. Police noted that food was repeatedly ordered to the room during the gambling session, raising questions over whether hotel staff or management were aware of the illegal activity. However, the hotel owner has denied any involvement, claiming he had no prior knowledge of the gambling and did not receive any commission.

Police are currently interrogating the accused and probing how such a large group was allowed to occupy a single room without attracting suspicion. Further action, officials said, would be based on the outcome of the investigation, as efforts continue to identify any wider network linked to the illegal gambling racket.