Thailand gambling racket: Hyderabad man Chikoti Praveen among 80 held

Hyderabad: A massive gambling racket in Thailand has led to the arrest of 93 people, including 80 Indians, and among them is Chikoti Praveen from Telangana.

Chikoti Praveen Kumar, popularly known as ‘PC’ in gambling circles, is allegedly involved in organising high-stakes gambling for high-profile Indians who prefer to indulge in the safety of neighbouring countries like Nepal, Thailand, and Indonesia. He was booked under various cases.

On Monday morning, Thailand police conducted raids at a gambling centre at a luxury hotel in Pattaya. The police seized four baccarat tables, three blackjack tables, 25 sets of cards, 20,92,15,000 chips, Rs. 1,60,000, eight closed-circuit television cameras, 92 mobile phones, and three computers.

A logbook in which gambling credits were recorded, showing about Rs. 10 lakhs worth of credits in circulation, was also seized.

According to Maj. Gen. Kampol Leelaprapaporn, the Chon Buri police chief found a large number of gamblers playing games of baccara and blackjack in the Sampao room. On seeing the police, they tried to run away but to no avail.

A report published by Bangkok Post said Sitranan Kaewlor, 32, who told the police she was in charge of the accommodation and gambling venue, revealed that the Indian tourists were charged 50,000 Baht each. The room for gambling was rented for 1,20,000 Baht. It was open from 1 p.m. to 6 a.m. Hotel staff were not allowed to enter the room.

According to reports, Chikoti Praveen allegedly set up a gambling den at Asia Pattaya Hotel in Pattaya on Soi Phra Tamnak 4 in Tambon Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. The arrested include 14 women. People from Hyderabad and other parts of India were allegedly brought in for gambling. The group was scheduled to leave for India on Monday morning, but the police raided the hotel late at night and caught them.

According to the Thai police, 80 Indians were arrested in the raid at the Asia Pattaya Hotel. The police were acting on information received from detectives that several Indians had booked rooms in the hotel from 27 April to 1 May and were using a conference room called Sampao for gambling.

Praveen had allegedly taken 10 Indian celebrities to neighbouring countries promoting these glamorous trips. He also allegedly arranged special flights to take people to Nepal in June. Each gambler was charged Rs. 3 lakhs for a four-day package.

Earlier, the ED raided Praveen’s house at IS Sadan in Hyderabad and his farmhouse at Kadthal on the city outskirts. The Enforcement Directorate also probed the irregularities of Praveen. He was also once arrested by the Hyderabad police in 2007 during a raid on a star hotel for organising gambling for punters.

Sources said another two Madhav Reddy (A1 in an ED case in Hyderabad), and Medak DCCB Bank Chairman Chitti Devender Reddy are also said to be arrested. However it is yet to be officially confirmed. Their mobile phones are currently not reachable.