Police detained Nepali Army Major, Rajendra Shahi along with eight others on Friday evening from the house of Som Bahadur Magar located at Samakhusi for their alleged involvement in illegal gambling.

Those arrested have been identified as Budhilal Magar, Mankaji Gurung, Sombahadur Gurung, Dharma Shahi, Kiranjung Shah, Niraj Rana and Jit Bahadur Gurung.

“We have confiscated cash worth one hundred fifty-nine thousand from the arrestees and further investigation into the case is underway,” said a police official.

About a week ago, police raided a private house in Maharajgunj and arrested 25 people for illegal gambling, and confiscated over Rs26 million in cash and a cheque for Rs300,000.

According to Senior Superintendent Uttam Raj Subedi, chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan Police Range, it was their biggest raid in recent days with the largest amount of money seized. “Police have been keeping tabs on such illegal activities,” Subedi added.

Data provided by the Nepal Police show that in the last two weeks, police have detained as many as 473 gamblers across the country with the total confiscated money amounting to more than Rs31 million.

Police arrested those gamblers from Kathmandu, Chitwan, Pokhara, Morang, Bhaktapur, Lamjung, Dang, Nawalparasi East, Surkhet and Bardiya, according to data.

According to the Gambling Act-1963, those arrested for a first-time gambling offence are liable for a fine not exceeding Rs200. Repeat offenders are liable for a jail sentence ranging from one month to a year.

According to data from the past three fiscal years, the number of people arrested for gambling offences has risen steadily. In the fiscal year 2018/19, the police had detained 2,869 people, which was the highest number of arrests in the past three years, from across the country. Nearly 40 percent (1,161) of the arrests were made in Kathmandu Valley. In the fiscal year 2016/17, 1,504 people were arrested for gambling. The number rose to 2,824 in the fiscal year 2017/18.

The Nepal Police data show that police seized around Rs19 million from different gambling dens in the last fiscal year, while this year they have seized over Rs30 million in the last two weeks alone.

“The police have tightened the security this year. This is why we are able to confiscate such a huge amount in such a short period of time. The seized amount will go to the government,” added Subedi.

He said the majority of complaints related to gambling are received either from their family members or acquaintances.