Selim Pradhan Arrested in Baridhara Over Illegal Hookah Operation

Selim Pradhan, a central figure in the casino scandal, has been arrested. The operation took place in the early hours of Saturday around 4 a.m. at a restaurant in Baridhara.

Police detained a total of nine individuals, including Selim Pradhan, and seized 6.7 kilograms of hookah (shisha). Additionally, seven hookah stands and other related equipment were recovered.

Gulshan police’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Al Amin Hossain stated that illegal hookah was being operated at Nexus Café, located at House No. 43, Road No. 12 in Baridhara. Selim Pradhan is reported to be the owner of the establishment.

Selim Pradhan previously came under scrutiny during anti-casino operations. On September 30, 2019, he was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while attempting to fly to Thailand. Authorities raided his residence and office, seizing large amounts of foreign and domestic currency, as well as substantial quantities of imported alcohol.

Law enforcement at the time identified Selim Pradhan as a major figure behind online casinos and gambling operations in Bangladesh, with allegations of extensive money laundering abroad. He also served four years in prison following a conviction in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).