The Telangana High Court has quashed a gambling case against a private school teacher, ruling that the alleged betting activity did not occur in a public place as required under the Telangana Gaming Act, 2017.

The case stemmed from an incident where the teacher was accused of participating in a card game involving betting near an Indian Gas Agency. The police registered the case under Section 9(1) of the Telangana Gaming Act, 2017, which penalizes gaming in public streets or places accessible to the public. The police seized Rs. 7,800, 104 plastic playing cards, two cell phones, and two bikes from the scene.

Justice K. Sujana observed that the location of the alleged activity was behind the Indian Gas Agency, specifically within agricultural fields and behind the gas godown. The court noted that the prosecution failed to establish that the location was a public place where inconvenience could be caused to the public. The charge sheet did not include any complaints from villagers about the alleged gaming activity, and the case was registered suo motu by the police.

The court concluded that the continuation of proceedings against the teacher would be an abuse of the legal process and thus quashed the case.

sources