HYDERABAD: The large group of Indians accused of gambling in a makeshift casino in a hotel in Thailand, have been released by the police after being produced before the Pattaya provincial court on Tuesday. There was, however, no clarity on when they would be allowed to return to India.
Among the group that was released was Chikoti Praveen, orginally believed to be one of the organisers behind the casino. He, however, told TOI over the phone from Thailand that he was not the organiser.
He insisted that the real organisers were Thai nationals who gave him the impression that they had taken permissions from the local authorities for setting up the casino in the convention hall of a hotel. “Police officials questioned us for a day and conducted an enquiry,” he said.
There is no case against me as I am not the organiser. I was detained for only a day on Monday.”
“It (the illegal casino) was organised by one Dev, an Indian living in Thailand, and another woman, Sita. They invited us to a poker tournament. They claimed the tournament was legal and had sent us permission documents. We believed them and came to Thailand. They said they had permission for three days. I didn’t know that gambling is illegal in Thailand. I have proved my innocence to the officials,” Praveen said.
Thai police on Monday said they had arrested 83 Indians, including Praveen, on charges of illegal gambling in the Pattaya Hotel in Chon Buri. Sources added that the police will treat the organisers of the casino – the Thai nationals – separately from the Indian tourists.