6 men arrested for cock fight gambling in Pune

Acting on a tip-off to police personnel Gopal Madane and Amol Pilane, a team led by Assistant Inspector Umakant Mahadik rushed to an open spot in Ghorpadi, behind the Empress Garden, and nabbed the six accused.

The police said they were allegedly making the cocks fights at the public place and taking bets from people for gambling.

The police seized six colourful cocks along with six tunga bags used for their transportation, three motorcycles, five cell phones and some cash, all worth Rs 5.11 lakh, from their possession.

Bhausaheb Patil, Senior Inspector of the Wanavdi police station, said, “A prima facie probe revealed that the accused started cock fight gambling in Pune recently. Further investigation is on.”

The police said a probe is on to know how the accused came together and procured the cocks for gambling.

The police said gambling on cock fights where knives are tied to the cocks’ legs is banned in India. The ban is part of a nationwide prohibition on animal fighting under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

In Maharashtra, cock fights are more famous in the Vidarbha region of the state. A Supreme Court ruling in 2018 allowed traditional knife-free, non-betting cock fighting events.

The police suspect that despite the ban, cock fighting continues illegally in some parts of the country.