Massive Illegal Betting Around Delhi Race Club Continues Despite Strict Covid Restrictions

Despite the announcement of closure of the Delhi Race Club with the rise in Omicron Cases in Delhi, punters continue to gather in large numbers in the jhuggis adjacent to the stables of the Race Club where the illegal betting extravaganza continues unabated, primarily due to the unholy nexus between illegal book makers and personnel of Delhi Police. And when hundreds of punters, illegal bookmakers and their agents thong the place in large numbers, one can imagine how the norms of social distancing and wearing of masks etc. is being openly violated.

As per the latest data issued by the Union Ministry of Health, the Omicron tally in the country has reached 1,700, of which 639 have recovered or been discharged. Maharashtra topped the count with 510 Omicron cases, followed by Delhi with 351 cases.

The ‘Mela” around the Delhi Race Club, which is bang opposite 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, the residence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, starts every afternoon before horse race time and continues till late in the evening when bets are settled.

Beat Constables do come around and so does the PCR van but just for formality and they simply vanish from there within minutes, giving a blind eye to the unruly gathering of punters present here. Delhi Government, which has recently issued strict Covid guidelines to be followed under the instructions of the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), also seems to have ignored these regular gatherings adjacent to Delhi Race Club.

Are the authorities waiting for the third wave of Covid, before they put their act together and enforce Covid restrictions seriously here?