Nuh locals bet big on poll, with affidavits

Punters in Mewat are betting big on the results of the October 5 Haryana Assembly elections with some of them even getting special affidavits made to back their bets.

The results of the elections will be announced on October 8. The passion among gamblers in Nuh, Sohna and Palwal is so high that besides placing bets in cash, some are even putting their properties and vehicles at stake on victory of various local candidates.

To offer guarantee of promising to pay in case they lose, punters are getting special affidavits made.

One such affidavit accessed by The Tribune revealed that an INLD worker and a Congress activist had placed bets on the victory INLD candidate Tahir Hussain and Congress candidate Aftab Ahmed, respectively, from the Nuh seat. At stake is Rs 6 lakh cash and a four-axle truck. The affidavit has been signed by a notary and witnesses.

“Betting or satta during the elections is popular in Mewat, but people started cheating. In the last Lok Sabha elections, people recorded videos of promising to pay in case they lost the bet. However, a majority reneged after the declaration of the results. This led to disputes and some parties even approached panchayats,” said a betting agent from Salaheri. “This time, we have decided to make bets legally binding by taking affidavits from the bettors. We have roped in advocates from our own villages to make these documents. Now people cannot run away from their promises,” said the betting agent. Claiming to have made 15 such affidavits till now, a notary, Naved, said he was charging around Rs 500 for each document, which carried the signatures of the witnesses. The maximum bets have reportedly been placed in the Punhana segment where Congress’ Mohammad Illiyas is locked in a contest with Independent candidate Rahisa Khan.

Sources said during a public meeting, a man even promised to marry his daughter off to another bettor if Rahisa lost the election. The bet was reportedly made in front of a local qazi. The sources said not just individuals, but even villages were putting money on candidates, with panchayats placing bets.

“Betting is common in Nuh, especially during state elections. It used to be small-time pastime in villages, but things have started getting ugly now. Many people are placing bets and putting out videos on social media platforms just to garner attention of candidates,” said political analyst Noor Din Noor.