Pro-Kannada activists in Bengaluru vandalised a poker club in Koramangala in the city, alleging that the Golden Aces club was “spoiling the youth.”
According to media reports, activists of Namma Karnataka Sene barged into the club, located in Cauvery Colony in Koramangala, on Sunday evening. The accused the club of being involved in illegal gambling activities and online betting.
According to the police, the activists entered the club and got into an argument with the staff members present. The Namma Karnataka Sene members claimed that the establishment is spoiling the youth.
The activists damaged furniture and equipment in the club, even as customers ran away.
Police rushed to the spot and detained the activist.
Later, the owner of the club lodged a complaint, following which the police arrested the activists. According to media reports, 10 members of the forum were arrested and later released on bail.
Basavaraj Padukote, state president of the forum, claimed that they too filed a complaint with the police, but only an NCR (Non-Cognizable Report) was registered, and the club continued to operate. He demanded that the police register an FIR and arrest those responsible for running it.
The issue took a political turn when BJP MP and former Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj S Bommai alleged that the incient showed that even after the central government banned online betting, it continues unabated "right under the noses of the police. This reveals the relationship between those involved in online betting, the police, and the government."
ಕೋರಮಂಗಲದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡಪರ ಸಂಘಟನೆಗಳು ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಆನ್ ಲೈನ್ ಬೆಟ್ಟಿಂಗ್ ಬ್ಯಾನ್ ಮಾಡಿದಾಗಲು ಕೂಡ ಅವ್ಯಾಹತವಾಗಿ ಪೊಲಿಸರ ಕಣ್ಣ ಕೆಳಗಡೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಬಹಿರಂಗಗೊಳಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಇದು ಆನ್ ಲೈನ್ ಬೆಟ್ಟಿಂಗ್ ಮಾಡುವವರು ಮತ್ತು ಪೊಲಿಸರು ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ನಡುವೆ ಇರುವ ಸಂಬಂಧ ಗೊತ್ತಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಇದ್ದಾಗ ಆನ್ ಲೈನ್…
— Basavaraj S Bommai (@BSBommai) October 5, 2025
"When our government was in power, we registered non-bailable cases against online betting and enforced strict laws. That case is currently in the Supreme Court. If the state government genuinely cares about curbing online betting and preventing the poor from falling victim to it, it should take action regarding the case pending in the Supreme Court, enforce the law, and ensure punishment. However, even after two and a half years, the government’s complete neglect clearly shows that it is entirely in favor of online betting," he said in a tweet.
