KATHMANDU: Police have said the nine high-profile businessmen who were arrested on the charge of gambling are still into the police custody.

DSP Ranjan Dahal, in-charge of Metropolitan Police Circle, Durbar Marg said the arrested nine gamblers have not yet been released.

“All the arrested nine gamblers are in the custody.  We are investigating them. They will be penalized in line with the law if found guilty,” said Dahal.

They were taken into custody following the order by the District Administration Office, Kathmandu to investigate them for five days.

Acting on a tip-off, a team deployed from Metropolitan Police Circle, Durbar Marg on Monday raided gambling den Ganagaur Regency Boutique Hotel leading to the arrest of the nine gamblers.

The arrested include businessmen Ram Chandra Sanghai, Suresh Kumar Agrawal, Bimal Khetan, Bimal Ahuja, Purusottam Agrawal, Govinda Agrawal, Ashok Kumar Agrawal, Nanda Kishor Sharma and Hotel operator Indian national Nikki Jogai for gambling.

Police had seized Rs 277,000 in cash along with 179 coins of 1,000, 500, 100 and 50 denominations from the gambling den.

The arrested have been involved in various banks and insurance companies, according to sources.