75-yr-old ‘astrologer’ arrested for running betting racket

THE ELDERLY MAN

OFTEN TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HIS DISABILITY TO CLAIM INNOCENCE DURING POLICE RAIDS. HE WAS NEVER CAUGHT AS HE USED TO POSE AS AN ASTROLOGER

A 75-year-old physically disabled man, and his 35-year-old son, were arrested on Saturday for allegedly running a betting racket in southeast Delhi’s Sangam Vihar.

Three men, who were gambling inside, were also nabbed during the police raid and Rs 15,000 recovered from them.

Police said the elderly man, identified as Ram Snehi Lal, was the kingpin of the racket and he had made his son join him too. According to a senior police officer, Lal claimed to be an astrologer and was running the betting racket from his house in the garb of his astrology practice.

“The elderly man often took advantage of his disability to claim innocence during police raids. He was never caught as he used to pose as an astrologer and described people visiting his office as clients,” said the senior officer.

Police identified the arrested accused as Lal’s son Chhote, alleged gamblers Ram Singh, Ravinder, and Shyam Lal Verma.

Police also seized a register in which the father-son duo used to keep a record of their clients and their betting amounts.

Saturday’s raid was conducted after the police received information about a betting racket that was being operated from a house near Munna Chowk in Sangam Vihar. The information was then brought to the notice of SHO Upender, who formed a team to raid the house.

Around 9.30pm, the raiding police team reached the house and found several people gathered outside Lal’s hresidenceouse. When Lal was asked to explain why so many people were present outside his house, he tried to mislead the police by claiming that he was an astrologer and the men were his clients.

Police said SHO Upender then told the elderly man that he also wanted his help in resolving some personal problems through Lal’s experience in astrology. The SHO then asked him certain questions related to astrology. Being a fake astrologer, Lal failed to answer the questions, raising suspicion.

“Lal’s house was then raided and three gamblers were held with betting money. His son was also nabbed for running the racket,” the officer added.