Pune: In a significant crackdown on illegal gambling, Pune Police raided a gambling den operated by the infamous "Matka King" Nandu Naik at Janseva Bhojanalaya in Shukrawar Peth, detaining 60 individuals on Friday (October 25).

Naik, widely recognized for his illegal gambling network across the city, has faced multiple police actions in the past, with dens temporarily shutting down following raids and reopening after a short period.

The police had previously raided this particular den in August, seizing ₹2 lakh in cash along with gambling paraphernalia.

Despite the raid and subsequent seizure, the den resumed operations. Nandu Naik has previously been charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) for his alleged involvement in organized crime.

During this recent raid, the Crime Branch took 60 individuals into custody and seized ₹1,250 in cash and 47 mobile phones.

This operation was executed under the direction of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Additional Police Commissioner Ranjankumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner Shailesh Balkawade, Deputy Commissioner Nikhil Pingle, Assistant Commissioner Ganesh Ingle, and Rajendra Mulik,

with joint efforts from the anti-narcotics unit, the robbery and vehicle theft unit, and Units 1 and 5.

During the earlier raid in August, betting slips for the Kalyan Open Matka were found in circulation.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Santosh Lakshman Gujar (52), Ravindra Dhondiba Gajdane (42), Govind Anantrao Vedpathak (43), Raju Babanrao Gore (32), Kisan Dattatray Taware (43), Rohan Kisan Taware (19), Nilesh Krishnaji Ranpise (52), and Nandkumar Baburao Naik (76).

The seized items include mobile phones, ₹95,740 in cash, and other gambling tools.